The USDA released the Specialty Crops Report, a follow up to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, which includes national and state data on the number of farms, land in farms, irrigated acreage, value of sales, and operator characteristics for specialty crops.

Click to download the report. 

Click to learn more about Senator Tester's announcement that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) will issue a guidance allowing hemp producers to bank at financial institutions and what this means for Montana producers.

Click to view the Montana FSA: December 2019 Newsletter.

NOTICE: The Montana Grants and Loans WebGrants System will be down for maintenance this upcoming weekend, Saturday December 7 and Sunday December 8.

The system will be unavailable during this time. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have questions, or require assistance or accommodation, please contact the WebGrants administrator by emailing FundingMT@mt.gov. Thank you for your patience.

The Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage Advisory Council will meet on Wednesday, February 19th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Conference Room 225 at the Montana Department of Agriculture (302 N. Roberts, Helena, MT).

Click to learn more about the NWSFF Advisory Council.

Students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade will learn their reading, writing, math, science and social studies lessons through agricultural-related activities thanks to 15, $500 grants awarded by the CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., and the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO).

Montana (Big Sandy) – Big Sandy High School’s Artificial Insemination project will allow 12th graders to learn about the reproductive process involved in breeding beef cattle.

The Montana Pulse Crop Committee invites proposals to fund market development projects and educational projects designed to address Montana's pulse industry. All funding awards will be determined by the Montana Pulse Crop Committee or the USADPLC Research Review Committee. Generally, to qualify for consideration, proposals must have practical, near-term application involving practices or organizational arrangements that will stimulate an expanded pulse industry.

Click here to view/download the complete Request for Proposals (RFP) for 2020 Pulse Grants (PDF format).

Proposals submitted under the Montana Pulse Crop Marketing area must be received on or before March 1, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. by the Montana Pulse Crop Committee. Proposals must be submitted through the online WebGrants application portal at fundingmt.org. Instructions on using Webgrants can be found in the files below:

• WebGrants: Registration Instructions
• WebGrants: General Grantee Instructions
• WebGrants: User Manual

Proposals submitted under the Montana Pulse Crop Research area are to be submitted through USADPLC Industry Research Proposals, and are due on or before December 6, 2019.

The Montana State Hail Board will meet at 9:00 am on Wednesday December 4^th at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls (1700 Fox Farm Rd) to review the 2019 hail year.

Click to learn more about the Hail Insurance Program and Board. 

Click here for more information from the CDC.

Click here for more information from the FDA.

St. Paul, Minnesota—Nov. 13, 2019—CHS Inc., based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, is voluntarily recalling 67 tons of Payback^® Feeds listed below due to potentially high levels of magnesium.

Helena, Mont. – The Montana Department of Agriculture is excited to announce that Cassidy Marn has accepted the Bureau Chief position for the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee.  Cassidy has served as the bureau’s Trade and Marketing Manager since 2010.

“We’re thrilled Cassidy will be leading the Wheat and Barley Committee.  She’s highly experienced in world grain markets and is committed to advancing Montana’s #1 industry,” said Director Ben Thomas.  “I’m confident she’ll serve the state well.”