News

The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is currently recruiting for open positions on its Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage Advisory Council. The following council terms are currently vacant:

• Certified Weed Seed Free Forage Producer (Eastern Region)
• Certified Weed Seed Free Forage Producer (Any Region)
• Outfitter’s or Guide’s Organization
• Certified Weed Seed Free Forage Producer (Central Region)
• Western County Weed District Representative
• Eastern County Weed District Representative
• Forage Product Processor

Click here to visit the NWSFF Advisory Council website and apply.

Stephen M. Vantassel, Vertebrate Pest Specialist, for the Montana Department of Agriculture is presenting a no-cost webinar entitled Vertebrate Pests and Human Health on September 30^th at 12:00 and 6:00pm. This 1 CE hour-long training will discuss the threats posed by vertebrate animals to human-health and safety and will provide some tips for mitigating those threats. Preregistration is required.

To preregister or to learn more about available trainings visit https://mtplants.mt.gov/PesticideApplicator/MeetingSearch.aspx.

Select the 32 - Vertebrate Pest category under the Webinar meeting type.

For additional information on vertebrate pests visit https://agr.mt.gov/Topics/Vertebrate-Pests

The Montana Department of Agriculture’s annual Pesticide Disposal Events will be held in several locations across Montana during September.   The annual events have collected more than 668,000 pounds of waste pesticides since it began in 1994. Event's will be held on the following days:

• September 15th in Kalispell
• September 16th in Polson
• September 17th in Hamilton
• September 18th in Butte

Click here for instructions to pre-register. The department asks participants to register before September 10th, before the collection events, so products can be managed safely and efficienlty.

A public hearing will be held on August 13, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. The Montana Department of Agriculture has proposed administrative rules pertaining to the Montana Hemp Research and Market Development Program. The proposal notice, published on pages 1319-1321 in Issue No. 14 of the 2020 Montana Administrative Register (MAR Notice No. 4-20-269) can be viewed on the Secretary of State’s website at https://sosmt.gov/arm/register/.

The hearing will be held in in Room 225 of the Scott Hart Building (302 N. Roberts, Helena, MT 59601), as well as virtually through the meeting platform Zoom. Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments either orally or in writing at the hearing or send them to the department by 5:00 p.m., August 21, 2020.

For Zoom meeting details please contact Virginia Corbett via email at agr@mt.gov or phone, 444-3156.

The Montana Hemp Advisory Committee will meet via Zoom/Teleconference on Tuesday, July  7, 2020 at 10:30am. Contact Virginia Corbett for call information: Virginia.Corbett@mt.gov or (406)444-3156. 

For more information about the Hemp Committee, click here.

The Montana Hemp Advisory Committee will meet via Zoom/Teleconference on Thursday, October 8 at 1pm. Contact Virginia Corbett for call information: Virginia.Corbett@mt.gov or (406)444-3156. 

For more information about the Hemp Committee, click here.

The Montana Department of Agriculture will host the first of the Oilseed Advisory Committee meetings on Thursday, June 18 on the online meeting platform, Zoom, starting at 11:00 am. 

For more information about the committee or for a link to the meeting, please contact Dani Jones via email at danielle.jones@mt.gov or via phone at 406-444-2402.

The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee Summer Meeting will take place on a virtual meeting format, on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. The meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, and last until 12:00 p.m. 

To receive call-in information please contact the MWBC office with and provide your email address. As always, the public is invited to participate virtually in the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee board meeting.

For more information, please visit https://wbc.agr.mt.gov/, call (406) 761-7732, or email wbc@mt.gov.

The Montana Pulse Crop Committee will meet via Zoom teleconference at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9^th. For more information, please contact Weston Merrill, at (406) 444-3407.

Zoom Meeting Information

To join by computer: https://zoom.us/j/91650348866 [zoom.us]

To join by phone: (877) 853-5247; Meeting ID: 916 5034 8866

Click to learn more about the Montana Pulse Crop Committee.

The Montana Hemp Advisory Committee will meet via Skype/Phone teleconference on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 10:00am. The Director of the department will be giving an update. Contact Virginia Corbett for call information: Virginia.Corbett@mt.gov or (406)444-3156. 

For more information about the Hemp Committee, click here.