MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Prior to a major reorganization In 1977 the Department of Agriculture functioned mainly 

 as a regulatory agency. Restructuring enabled the Department to perform Its regulatory responsi- 

 bilities more efficiently and to enhance Its duties to promote and encourage agriculture In Mon- 

 tana. The reorganization plan called for the Department to enter the 80s with a posture of pro- 

 gressively serving Montana agriculture. 



The Department Director Is responsible for administration of the Department's $4 million 

 annual budget and Its 85 full time and 10 seasonal employees. He oversees the Department's four 

 divisions and two units. The function of each division and unit Is summarized below. 



The Centralized Services Division performs technical fiscal and administrative support 

 functions for the Department. Activities are for Internal operations. 



The Environmental Management Division Is responsible for the registration of 4,000 pesti- 

 cide products; the certification and licensing of 2.500 commercial applicators and dealers, and some 

 10,000 private applicators; enforcement of the pesticide act and rules; providing technical environ- 

 mental services to agriculture; providing an evaluation of pest management problems and programs; 

 and providing analytical laboratory and consultative services to other agencies and the public. 



The Plant Industry Division Is responsible for the administration and enforcement of reg- 

 ulatory laws controlling the production, manufacturing and marketing of agricultural commodities ex- 

 ported from or distributed within Montana. The division Investigates consumer complaints; performs 

 technical Inspections and surveys; Issues fede ra 1 -state grade certificates; and provides regulatory 

 technical expertise and licenses for 5,200 bee yards, 550 nurseries, 650 feed dealers, 350 fertil- 

 izer dealers, 300 seed dealers and 325 grain merchandisers. The division also registers some 3,300 

 commercial feed products and 1,000 fertilizers. The division's grain laboratory In Great Falls pro- 

 vides the only official grain grading services In the State. 



The Agricultural Development Division Is responsible for using tax-exempt Industrial de- 

 velopment revenue bonds to make lower Interest rate loans available to beginning farme rs/ ranchers. 

 A tax deduction Is provided for fa rme r/ ranchers who sell their land to qualified beginning farmers 

 and ranchers. The division's Marketing Program Is responsible for Identifying major needs and 

 priorities by coordinating agricultural product development through Improvement of direct markets 

 from producer to consumer. The division, through the Alfalfa Seed Act, Is responsible for Improv- 

 ing the culture and production of and market development for alfalfa seed grown In Montana. State- 

 wide agricultural statistics and projections are developed through a Federa 1 / State cooperative 

 agreement administered through the division, and are made available through a comprehensive agricul- 

 tural statistics bulletin and grain movement summary along with other production, price and Income 

 reports. Lower 1 nterest- rate loans are available to rural youth, rural youth organizations and es- 

 tablished farmers/ ranchers In cooperation with the FmHA through a $1.5 million revolving fund of the 

 former Montana Rural Rehabilitation Corporation. 



The Wheat Research and Marketing Unit Is responsible for promoting and encouraging Inten- 

 sive scientific and practical research In all phases of wheat culture, production, and marketing 

 under the guidelines and policies developed by the Wheat Research and Marketing Committee. The unit 

 contracts with Montana State University for work In areas such as barley Improvement, disease con- 

 trol, the AGNET program. Insect control and cropping practices. Foreign market promotion Includes 

 U.S. Wheat Associates membership as one of thirteen partners In the Association's foreign market de- 

 velopment efforts and U.S. Feed Grain Council foreign market promotion of feed grains. 



The Hall Insurance Unit administers the State Hall Insurance Program under guidelines and 

 policies developed by the State Board of hall Insurance. In 1984, Montana producers purchased 2,274 

 policies from the unit worth a record $27 million dollars In coverage against hall damage. The 

 unit's success Is evidenced by the fact that both the amount of risk coverage and number of pol Icles 

 purchased have each Increased the past several years. 



