The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is currently recruiting for open positions on its Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council (NWMAC). The following council terms expire June 30, 2021:

• Livestock Production Representative
• Herbicide Dealer or Applicator
• Biological Research and Control Interests Representative
• Western County Weed District Representative
• Agriculture Crop Production Representative

Click here to learn more about the Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council and apply. 

The Noxious Weed Listing Workgroup will meet vitrually via Zoom on Friday, January 22nd beginning at 9:00 a.m.

To receive Zoom information to join the meeting, please contact Jasmine Reimer at JReimer@mt.gov or (406) 444-3140. 

U.S. Wheat Associates has created a new film titled “Wholesome: The Journey of U.S. Wheat” that shows how the people in the export supply system maintain the wholesome, reliable character of U.S. wheat. Among the farms featured in the film is the Hucke family farm located in Geraldine, Montana.

Click here to view the U.S. Wheat Associates films.

The Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee will meet virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 beginning at 8:30 a.m. An agenda will be available soon.

To receive Zoom information to join the meeting, please contact Dani Jones by phone at (406) 444-2402, or by email at Danielle.Jones@mt.gov.

Click here to learn more about the Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee's Research and Development Program.

Montana youth ages 21 and under may be eligible for up to $8,500 in loan financing through the Montana Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Junior Agriculture Loan Program.

“With the average age of farmers and ranchers being nearly 60 years old, supporting the next generation is vital to Montana’s livelihood,” said MDA Director Mike Foster. “The Junior Ag Loan Program plays an important role in connecting young people who are passionate about pursuing projects in agriculture with the financing they need to get started.”

Click here to learn more about the Junior Ag Loan Program and apply. 

As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) extensive efforts to address PFAS, today the agency is making new information available about EPA testing that shows PFAS contamination from fluorinated containers.  

Through a coordinated effort with both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a pesticide manufacturer, the agency has determined that fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers that are used to store and transport a mosquito control pesticide product contain PFAS compounds that are leaching into the pesticide product. 

EPA will update the following webpage with information as it becomes available: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/pfas-packaging

The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) has issued an emergency quarantine order to protect against the introduction and spread of the emerald ash borer (EAB), a destructive wood-boring beetle that has already killed millions of ash trees in North America. The order was motivated by the removal of federal domestic quarantine regulations by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS).

“It is important that we remain vigilant and do everything in our power to make sure that the emerald ash borer doesn’t find a way into Montana,” said MDA Director Mike Foster. “This quarantine order protects the green ash woodland resources in eastern Montana that provide habitat for many wildlife species as well as economic benefits to livestock producers and rural communities.”

Click here to view the quarantine order.

Click here to view the emergency rule. 

Click here to visit the USDA APHIS website to learn more about the emerald ash borer. 

The Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee is seeking proposals for demonstration projects, applied research, and market development projects designed to address needs and opportunities for Montana’s alfalfa seed industry. Proposals are due February 10, 2021.

For a complete list of guidelines and eligibility requirements, visit this link. Questions should be directed to the Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee, PO Box 200201, Helena, MT 59620-0201, or by contacting Dani Jones at (406) 444-2402 or via email at Danielle.Jones@mt.gov.

The Montana Oilseed Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Please see the agenda attached.

The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. To receive information to join the meeting, please contact Dani Jones at danielle.jones@mt.gov or (406) 444-2402.

FDA is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about certain Sportmix pet food products (see list below) manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. in their Oklahoma plant that may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins. 

As of January 11, 2021, FDA is aware of more than 70 pets that have died and more than 80 pets that are sick after eating Sportmix pet food. Not all of these cases have been officially confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning through laboratory testing or veterinary record review. This count is approximate and may not reflect the total number of pets affected.

Click here to read the full FDA Alert regarding the Midwestern Pet Foods recall.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that signup for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program will begin Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible crop quality losses due to natural disasters occurring in 2018 and 2019. The deadline to apply for QLA is Friday, March 5, 2021.

For more information, visit farmers.gov/quality-loss, or contact your local USDA Service Center. Producers can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364.

Click here to read USDA FSA's full announcement.