THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Prior +o 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 ca I led for the department to enter the SOs with a posture of pro- 

 gressively serving Montana agriculture. 



The Department Director is responsible for administration of the department's $4.5 mil- 

 lion annual budget and its 83 full time and 8 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. Responsibilities of the division include activities for internal 

 operations of the department. 



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 f edera I -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 administering programs directed 

 at promoting and enhancing Montana agriculture. Through the use of tax-exempt industrial develop- 

 ment revenue bonds, the Beginning Farm Loan Program makes lower interest-rate loans available to 

 beginning farmers and ranchers. A tax deduction Is provided for farmers and ranchers who well their 

 land to qualified beginning farmers and ranchers. Lower interest-rate loans are also available to 

 rural youth, rural youth organizations, and established farmers and ranchers in cooperation with the 

 FmHA, through a $1.8 million revolving fund of the former Montana Rural Rehabilitation Corporation. 

 The division's Marketing Program is responsible for Identifying major needs and priorities by coor- 

 dinating agricultural product development through improvement of direct markets from producer to 

 consumer. 'The division, through the Alfalfa Seed Act, is responsible for improving the culture and 

 production of and market development for alfalfa seed grown In Montana. Statewide agricultural sta- 

 tistics and projections are developed through a Federa I /State cooperative agreement administered 

 through the division, which are made available through a comprehensive agricultural statistics bul- 

 letin and grain movement summary along with other production, price, and income reports. 



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, insect control, and cropping practices. Foreign market promotion includes U.S. Wheat Assoc- 

 iates membership as one of thirteen partners In the Association's foreign market development efforts 

 and also is a member and participant in the U.S. Feed Grain Council foreign market promotion of feed 

 grains. 



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

 policies developed by the State Board of Hail insurance. In 1985, Montana producers purchased 2,029 

 policies from the unit worth $24 million in coverage against hail damage. The unit's success is evi- 

 denced by the fact that both the amount of risk coverage and number of policies purchased have re- 

 mained about the same level even with the drought that has affected the state. The program insures 

 any type of crop grown in Montana from losses caused by hall damage. The maximum rate charged is 10? 

 for standard grain crops. 



