News

The Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council will hold their buisiness meeting and the 2021 Noxious Weed Trust Fund grant hearings virtually March 8 -12, 2021.

A business meeting agenda and grant applicant hearing schedule is attached.

To receive information to join the virtual meeting, please contact Carol Bearden, Noxious Weed Program Specialist, at (406) 444-7880 or cbearden@mt.gov. 

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

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.

The Agriculture Development Council will meet virtually Wednesday, February 17^th through Friday, February 19^th. See attached agenda for order of events. 

To receive information to join the virtual meetings, please email a request to agr@mt.gov or call (406) 444-0134.

The Agriculture Development Council establishes policies and priorities to enhance the future development of agriculture in Montana including the award of loans and grants offered through the Growth Through Agriculture program. Click here to learn more about the Agriculture Development Council. 

The Montana Pulse Crop Committee will meet to hear a legislative update from 9am-11am on Tuesday, December 22nd. 

For more information on the Pulse Crop Committee, visit their website. 

For call information, reach out to Dani Jones at (406) 444-2402, or at Danielle.Jones@mt.gov. 

The Montana Organic Advisory Council will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, December 8th beginning at 1pm.

Please contact Virginia Corbett to receive information to join the meeting at (406) 444-3156 or virginia.corbett@mt.gov.

For more Information regarding the Organic advisory Council, visit the webpage, here.  

The  MDA Winter webinar trainings schedule is now available to help Montana pesticide applicators fulfill their continuing education requirements for their Montana pesticide license under the current COVID-19 situation. These trainings are being presented via Zoom and are free of charge. Each training will provide 1 CE per training* for the listed classifications (categories).   

• December 2, 2020: Pollinators
• December 9, 2020: Noxious Weeds
• December 10, 2020: Montana State Rodent Academy 
• December 16, 2020: Mode of Action

Click here to learn more and register in advance.

The Montana Potato Advisory Committee will meet via Zoom on Monday, November 9th beginning at 10 a.m.

Please contact Dani Jones to receive information to join the meeting at (406) 444-2402 or danielle.jones@mt.gov.

For more Information regarding the Potato advisory Committee, visit the webpage, here.  

The Montana Pulse Crop Advisory Committee will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, November 17th beginning at 9 a.m.

Please contact Dani Jones to receive information to join the meeting at (406) 444-2402 or danielle.jones@mt.gov.

For more Information regarding the Potato advisory Committee, visit the webpage, here.