6 Gener al 1991 Montana Agricultural Statistics 



MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The Department of Agriculture, through the Director, is responsible for administration of a $6.7 

 million annual budget with 89.04 full-time and 10 seasonal FTE. The Director oversees the department's 

 five divisions and nine bureaus. The function of each division is summarized below. 



Central Management Division performs technical, fiscal, and administrative support functions for 

 the department. Responsibilities of the division include activities for internal operations of the 

 department. 



State Grain Laboratory Division is located in Great Falls, operating the only official USDA-FGIS 

 state grain grading laboratory in the State of Montana. The lab provides unbiased grain grading, 

 analytical services, and oil seed analysis to the state's grain industry. 



Agricultural and Biological and Sciences Division is responsible for the registration of 4,930 

 pesticide products; the training, certification and licensing of 1,446 commercial and government 

 applicators, 1,138 operators, 502 pesticide dealers, and 8,500 private applicators. The division is also 

 responsible for providing an evaluation of pest management problems and programs; training and 

 licensing of government and commercial pesticide applicators and dealers; and providing analytical 

 laboratory and consultative services to other agencies and the public. 



The passage of the Montana Agricultural Chemical Ground Water Protection Act (1990) provides 

 that the department will protect ground water and the environment from impairment or degradation due 

 to the use of agricultural chemicals. 



The Vertebrate Pest Management program provides on-site demonstrations, educational materials 

 and technical bulletins to assist producers in reducing damage caused by field rodents, birds and other 

 large mammals. 



The Weed Management program is responsible for administering statewide efforts aimed at 

 control and/or eradication of noxious and other undesirable weeds. 



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 

 expertise and licenses for 4,900 bee yards, 650 nurseries, 650 feed dealers, 250 fertilizer dealers, 400 

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

 products and 1,000 fertilizers. 



The Agricultural Development Division is responsible for administering programs directed at 

 promoting and enhancing Montana agriculture. The Agriculture Finance program is responsible for 

 making grants and lower interest-rate loans for rural youth, rural youth organizations, and other 

 qualified farmers and ranchers. The division's Agricultural Assistance program is responsible for 

 providing peer counseling, financial consulting, and debt mediation assistance. The State Hail Insurance 

 program insures any type of crop grovm in Montana from losses caused by hail damage. 



The Marketing Program is responsible for market enhancement and development through direct 

 market development activities and through grants and seed capital loan investments in new/innovative 

 marketing and product development. Statewide agricultural statistics and projections are developed 

 through a Federal/State cooperative agreement administered through the division, which are made 

 available through a comprehensive agricultural statistics bulletin and grain movement summary along 

 with other production, price, and income reports. Research and market development efforts are 

 promoted for alfalfa seed through the Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee. 



The division 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 Montana Wheat and Barley Committee. Similar research and market development 

 efforts are promoted for alfalfa seed through the Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee. 



The division is also responsible for the State Hail Insurance program which insures any type of 

 crop grown in Montana fi-om losses caused by hail damage. 



