Agricultural Development Division

The Agricultural Development Division (ADD) is responsible for administering programs that promote and enhance Montana agriculture. Within the division are three bureaus: the Wheat and Barley Bureau, the Agricultural Marketing and Business Development Bureau, and the Montana State Grain Laboratory Bureau.

Boards and Councils attached to the division are:

• Alfalfa Seed Committee
• Agriculture Development Council
• Potato Advisory Committee
• Pulse Crop Committee
• Wheat and Barley Committee
• Montana Board of Hail Insurance

ADD serves Montana through:

• Agriculture Finance Program
• State Hail Insurance Program
• A state/federal agreement to collect and publish agricultural statistics
• Industry-specific research and development programs authorized by the Commodity Check-Off Enabling Act

The Agricultural Marketing & Business Development Bureau is responsible for market enhancement and development through direct market development activities, grants, seed capital loan investments in new and innovative products or process, marketing, and product development. Marketing and agri-business development personnel work closely with individuals and organizations to promote and enhance our agriculture industry. Visit our Marketing Assistance page and our Business page for overviews of services offered by the bureau.

The Montana State Grain Laboratory is located in Great Falls and operates the only official USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service grain official grading and inspection laboratory in Montana. The lab provides unbiased grain inspection, grading, and quality data for Montana crops. Visit the State Grain Lab page for details.

The Montana Wheat and Barley Bureau is responsible for promoting and encouraging scientific and practical research in all phases of wheat and barley production under the policies developed by the Wheat and Barley Committee.

Montana's value-added agriculture industry is growing yearly, supplemented by programs like Growth Through Agriculture and Grown in Montana.

The following information is available upon request from the Agriculture Development Division, or use the links below to find more details online:

• Financing Programs
• Business Development, Marketing and Trade Leads
• Hay Hotline
• Division Goals and Objectives
• County Crop and Livestock Statistics (published by the National Agricultural Statistics Service)

Agricultural Development Division Goal

To enhance, expand and diversify Montana's agricultural economy, thereby improving the general economy of the state of Montana by providing services which include market and agri-business development, Growth Through Agriculture grants and loans, wheat and barley research and marketing, agriculture loans, beginning farmer/rancher loans, hail insurance, grain grading and inspection, agriculture literacy and outreach, and administration of agricultural commodity research and market development programs.

Division Objectives

Marketing Objectives:

• Assist in increasing sales, profitability and overall success of Montana's agriculturally-based businesses operating in domestic and global markets.
• Provide technical assistance and decision-making information to Montana’s farmers and ranchers, helping them capture more value from their crops, livestock and land.
• Work with other service providers, community groups, and other agencies to improve opportunities to expand agriculture and agriculture related businesses in Montana.
• Support the Agriculture Development Council and administer the Growth Through Agriculture program which provides financial assistance to entrepreneurs for the startup and expansion of agriculturally-based businesses.

Development Objectives:

• Provide basic hail insurance coverage through the State Hail Insurance Program on crops grown in Montana so producers have an affordable hail loss protection option.
• Provide financial assistance to Montana agriculture by administering the Agriculture Finance program.
• Administer the producer funded Commodity Research and Market Development Programs.
• Administer the USDA, Agriculture Marketing Service, Specialty Crop Block Grant program to enhance Montana’s specialty crop industry.
• Increase agriculture literacy in Montana through educational outreach to teachers and schools.

State Grain Laboratory Bureau Objectives:

• Provide timely, official, objective and accurate test results to buyers and sellers of Montana grain under standards set by the USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service.
• Provide timely, official, sampling services and testing of other Montana commodities.
• Maintain USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service designation and provide official sampling services to Montana.

Wheat & Barley Bureau Objectives:

• Fund research that improves profitability of Montana’s wheat and barley growers.
• Develop and maintain international and domestic trade relationships that drive sales of Montana wheat and barley.
• Monitor, create and disseminate information about Montana’s wheat and barley production.

Pulse Crop Committee Objectives:

• Invest in and deliver support for marketing, research, education and policy development programming that improves return on investment for the pulse producers in the state of Montana.