8 General Montana Agricultural Statistics 1992 



MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The Department of Agriculture, through the Director, is responsible for administration of a $6.5 

 million annual budget with 89 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. 



Agriciiltural and Biological Sciences Division is responsible for the registration of 5,200 pesticide 

 products; the training, certification and licensing of 1,446 commercial and government applicators, 1,138 

 operators, 502 pesticide dealers, and 8,000 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 

 fi-om or distributed within Montana. The division investigates consumer complaints; performs technical 

 expertise and licenses for 650 nurseries, 530 feed dealers, 215 fertilizer dealers, 315 seed dealers, and 

 195 grain merchandisers. The division also registers some 4,500 commercial feed products and 1,400 

 fertilizers, and 5,000 bee yards. 



The Agriciiltural 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 State Hail Insurance program insures any type of crop grown in 

 Montana ft-om losses caused by hail damage. 



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

 market development activities, grants, 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. 



