News

The recently announced informational webinar about the Proposed National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard is now available online. The pre-recorded webinar provides an overview of the background, provisions and potential impacts of the proposed standard.

The informational webinar is now available for viewing on the BE Disclosure and Labeling page on the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service website under Resources.  

Hello Montana Growers!

The FDA’s Produce Safety Rule is in place (and was adopted by the Montana legislature) and is being implemented. The Montana Department of Agriculture has received a grant to provide support and technical assistance regarding produce safety to farmers. Food safety regulations are changing, and we want to ensure you have the information you need to be successful.

In coming weeks, we will be conducting brief phone calls to gain a better understanding of the number and scale of produce growers in the state. If you would rather submit your information through an online form, please go to www.foodsafety.mt.gov and click on “Submit Info for the Food Safety Modernization Act Inventory”, or, if you are unsure if the Produce Safety Act applies to you and your farm, click on "Determine if the Produce Safety Rule Applies to You" to answer a few questions and automatically see if you are exempt or if the law applies to you.

If you have questions, please call 406-444-0131 or email foodsafety@mt.gov.

Thank you from the Montana Department of Agriculture Food Safety Program

Helena, Mont. –  Montana cherry growers have voted to eliminate the Montana Cherry Research & Market Development Program. The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) will now take the necessary steps to eliminate the checkoff program.

Helena, Mont. – Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Ben Thomas joined state and provincial counterparts from the United States, Mexico and Canada last week to stress the necessity of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for agriculture and to call on their respective federal governments to ensure a modernized NAFTA does not harm agriculture. North American state and provincial agriculture officials gathered last week in Denver, Colo. for the 26^th annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord. The Tri-National Agricultural Accord represents a longstanding commitment among the senior state and provincial agricultural officials of North America to work together collaboratively on agricultural trade and development issues.

Montana has deep roots in agriculture, and an organization, Growth Through Agriculture, is looking to sprout new ways to help farmers forge new paths for a productive and diverse future. 

Click here to read the full article on the Great Falls Tribune website.

Helena, Mont. – The Montana Department of Agriculture and Montana Office of Public Instruction are joining schools, community partners, and individuals across Montana in celebrating Food Day and National Farm to School Month by crunching into locally-grown apples on Tuesday, October 24th at 2:30 p.m. for Montana Crunch Time.

Helena, Mont. – October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate connections happening all over the country between schools and local food producers. From the Trout to Tray program in Livingston, to the Garden to Cafeteria program in Hindsale, to Harvest of the Month taste tests in Geyser, there are great farm to school partnerships in every region of Montana. 

Helena, Mont. – As Montana cements its status as the nation’s leader in pulse production, a duo of bills signed recently by Governor Bullock aim to advance the burgeoning sector of Montana’s ag economy. HB 614 and SB 285 will incentivize growth in pulse-processing infrastructure throughout the state and give more structure to the state’s pulse checkoff program. Montana leads the nation in pulse production, with over 1 million acres planted in 2016. Pulses (peas, chickpeas, beans and lentils) are a versatile crop that promote biodiversity, improve soil health and generate income from local and global markets.