THE 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 responsibilities more efficiently and to 

 enhance its duties to promote and encourage agriculture in Montana. The reorganization plan called for the Depart- 

 ment to enter the eighties with a posture of better serving Montana agriculture. 



The Department Director is responsible for administration of the Department's 4 million dollar annual bud- 

 get and its 83 full time and 10 seasonal positions. He oversees the Department's three divisions and six units. 

 The function of each division and unit is summarized here below. 



Centralized Services Division performs technical fiscal and administrative support functions for the De- 

 partment. Activities are for internal operations. 



The Environmental Management Division is responsible for the registration of 3,000 pesticide 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 environmental services to agriculture; providing 

 for 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 regulatory laws 

 controlling the production, manufacturing and marketing of agricultural commodities exported from or distributed 

 within Montana. The division investigates consumer complaints; performs technical inspections and surveys; issues 

 federal-state grade certificates; and provides regulatory technical expertise for and licenses 5,000 bee yards, 

 550 nurseries, 650 feed dealers, 450 fertilizer dealers, 350 seed dealers and 250 grain merchandisers. The division 

 also certifies some 2,000 commercial feed products and 1,000 fertilizers. The division's grain laboratory in 

 Great Falls provides the only official grain grading services in the state. 



The Marketing Unit identifies major needs and establishes priorities in marketing to facilitate the or- 

 derly flow of the state's agricultural goods to market. From the generated data, the unit develops and publishes 

 statistics describing Montana agricultural transportation. The unit works to coordinate marketing from the pro- 

 ducer to the consumer. 



The Montana Crop and Livestock Reporting Unit, a joint federal/state service, prepares estimates and 

 reports of production, supply price, and other items necessary to the orderly operation of farm markets. The re- 

 ports include statistics on field crops, cattle, hogs, poultry and related products. Other estimates concern 

 prices received by farmers for products sold and prices paid by them for commodities and services. Montana county 

 and some special statistics are developed through the Federal/State Cooperation Agreement. These county statistics 

 are published biennially in the "MONTANA AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS" bulletin. 



The Wheat Research and Marketing Unit is responsible for promoting and encouraging intensive 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. For fiscal year 1982-83 the Unit has contracts totalling 

 $248,000 with Montana State University for work in areas such as barley improvement, disease control, the Agnet 

 program, insect control and cropping practices. For foreign market promotion the Unit pays a $220,000 membership 

 fee to U.S. Wheat Associates to maintain Montana as one of thirteen partners in the association's foreign market 

 development efforts. The Unit also assists in providing Montanans agricultural statistics and food and feed de- 

 velopment funds. 



The Hail Insurance Unit administers the State Hail Insurance Program under guidelines and policies de- 

 veloped by the State Board of Hail Insurance. In 1982, Montana producers purchased 2,139 policies from the Unit 

 worth a record $25.3 million dollars in coverage against hail damage. The Unit's success is evidenced by the 

 fact that both the amount of risk coverage and number of policies purchased have increased each of the past sev- 

 eral years. 



The Alfalfa Seed Unit is responsible for improving the culture and production of and expanding the 

 market for alfalfa seed grown in the state. This Unit was established by the 1982 Legislature. 



The Rural Development Unit provides financial assistance to help young farmers and ranchers get started 

 in agriculture. The program was originally funded by federal rural rehabilitation funds. Total assets now are 

 $1.5 million. Proceeds from the 220 active loans pay for program administration and provide funds for future loans. 



Assisting the state's number one industry is a formidable task. Hopefully, this brief look into the 

 Department of Agriculture will help you understand how it is serving Montana agriculture. 



