USDA, USTR Seek New Members for Trade Advisory Committees
Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. ET on March 1, 2019
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in cooperation with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), is accepting nominations for new members to serve on its agricultural trade advisory committees. Nominations received by Friday, March 1, 2019, will be considered for the next round of appointments.
Recruiting members for the Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council (NWMAC)
Applications due by April 12, 2019
The Montana Department of Agriculture is recruiting members for the Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council (NWMAC). Applications are due by April 12, 2019.
Members of the NWMAC provide guidance to the Noxious Weed Trust Fund Grant Program, which assists Montana counties, local and tribal communities, researchers and educators in efforts to combat noxious weeds. Reviewing grant applications requires a considerable amount of time in addition to attending the grant hearings which typically last five days. After the Noxious Weed Trust Fund grant hearings, held annually in March, the NWMAC recommends and presents funding counsel to the Director for approval.
Open Positions:
- Livestock Production Representative
- Herbicide Dealer or Applicator
- Biological Research and Control Interests Representative
- Western County Weed District Representative
- Agriculture Crop Production Representative
Please apply and submit a letter of interest to the Montana Department of Agriculture, Attn: Ben Thomas, PO Box 200201, Helena, MT, 59620-0201; cbay@mt.gov.
Click here to download the Application Form.
2019 Noxious Weed Trust Fund Grant Hearings Agenda
Hearing will be held at the DoubleTree in Helena on March 4 - March 8
Click here to download the full 2019 Noxious Weed Trust Fund Grant Hearing agenda. Hearing will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton - Helena Downtown, 22 N. Last Chance Gulch, on March 4 - March 8, 2019.
Industrial Hemp Program Frequently Asked Questions
Industrial Hemp Emergency Rule & Amendment of ARM 4.12.3104 and 4.19.101 through 4.19.104
Temporary Emergency Rule text is available at: sosmt.gov/arm/emergency/
Visit the Secretary of State Administrative Rules of MT (ARM) website to view the Montana Department of Agriculture's temporary emergency rule and temporary emergency amendment of ARM 4.12.3104 and 4.19.101 through 4.19.104 pertaining to Industrial Hemp.
Because the 2018 Farm Bill removed industrial hemp from the federal government's list of regulated controlled substances, a new hemp planting seed rule and amendments to previous seed and state hemp regulation and license rules were necessary.
The temporary emergency rules are effective immediately. Concerned persons are encouraged to submit their comments during the upcoming rulemaking process. Please refer to Montana Administrative Register (MAR) Notice No. 4-19-254 which will be published on Friday, January 25, 2019 for more information. This notice will be published in MAR Issue No. 2 and include a public hearing date and comment deadline.
If you would like to be added to the MT Department of Agriculture's Interested Parties List to receive notifications for hemp-related ARM, please contact Chelsi Bay at (406) 444-3156 or cbay@mt.gov.
Proposals Sought for 2019 Pulse Research & Market Development Program
Helena, Mont. – The Montana Pulse Crop Committee (MPCC) is seeking proposals for the Montana Pulse Research & Market Development Program. The MPCC invites proposals to fund research projects, market development projects and educational projects designed to address Montana’s pulse industry.
Research proposals are to be submitted through the US Dry Pea and Lentil Council (USADPLC) and are due December 8th. The Research review process will be held February 12-14, 2019 in Fargo, ND. USADPLC will finalize its budget by June 30, 2019 and award notices will be sent out in July 2019. For more information on research proposals, see the USADPLC Request for Proposals at: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2002/2018/10/20181004_RequestForProposals.pdf
Proposals submitted for market development or education projects must be received by the MPCC on or before March 1, 2019 at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted through the Webgrants system at fundingmt.org. Instructions on using Webgrants can be found at: https://agr.mt.gov/Commodities/Checkoff/Pulse
Visit https://agr.mt.gov/Portals/168/Documents/Pulse/2019PulseRFP.pdf for a complete list of guidelines and eligibility requirements. Questions on applications should be directed to the Montana Pulse Crop Committee, PO Box 200201, Helena, MT 59620-0201 or by contacting Zach Coccoli at (406) 444-0132 or via email at Z.Coccoli@mt.gov.
The Montana Department of Agriculture’s mission is to protect producers and consumers, and to enhance and develop agriculture and allied industries.
Hemp legalization could mean big business for Montana from the Helena Independent Record
HELENA — Hemp is poised to grow into a major industry in Montana.
After President Donald Trump's signature decriminalized hemp cultivation recently, Montana is looking at what could be a big market — from pharmaceuticals to animal feed — said Ben Thomas of the Montana Department of Agriculture.
Click here to read the full article from the Helena Independent Record.
Montana Noxious Weed Biennial Report for 2016-2017 Now Available
The Montana Noxious Weed Biennial Report for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 is now available online. Click here to view/download the Summary Report in PDF format, or click here to view the full interactive report.
Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage Advisory Council Openings
The Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage (NWSFF) Advisory Council is currently accepting applications. Click here to download the application form. Send questions or completed application forms to agr@mt.gov.
Governor Bullock signs MOU with Mexican Craft Brewers Association
MOU reaffirms relationship between Mexican brewers and Montana barley growers
Helena, Mont. – Governor Steve Bullock recently sat down with executives from the Mexican Craft Brewers Association (ACERMEX) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote continued collaboration between the group and Montana’s barley growers.
Excitement Surrounds Growing Consumer Demand for Pulses
Story courtesy of Nemetz Communications, Inc.
USDA is Still Accepting Applications for a Trade Mission to Taiwan, March 11-14, 2019
Application Deadline December 28, 2018
Come discover business opportunities in the heart of Asia!
Join the U.S. Department of Agriculture on its first-ever trade mission to Taipei, March 11-14, 2019, and learn how to expand your business to the United States’ eighth-largest agricultural export market.
Application deadline is December 28, 2018.
For more information, please contact trademissions@fas.usda.gov.
Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage Advisory Council
Public Meeting: Feb. 20, 2019
Public Meeting: Feb. 20, 2019. Click to learn more about the Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage Advisory Council.
Noxious Weed Biennial Report for Montana Now Available
Click here to view the interactive Montana Noxious Weed Biennial Report for 2016-2017.
From the Whitefish Pilot: Chemistry Students Turn Unusable Soil into Science Experiment
MDA Analytical Lab Assisted on the Project
From the Whitefish Pilot:
An early setback for the new Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship has become the type of real-world learning the facility promised.
After planting began at the Whitefish Schools CSE in early June, it became apparent that the soil used in the greenhouse and outdoor raised garden beds was contaminated with an herbicide, CSE Facilities Coordinator Taylor Wilmot said.
Click here to read the full article.
The Montana Department of Agriclture Analytical Lab assisted on the project.