agriculture

Montana’s food producers gathered in Helena last weekend for the Governor’s Summit on Montana Food and Agriculture with one goal in mind: Getting more Montana food on more Montana plates.

State seeks public comment on proposed data center well in Yellowstone County; Herbicide treatment flights in progress near Dillon; Emergency drought assistance available to ag producers in 16 Montana counties. Federal grants give Montana ambulance services a $9 million boost

Meagher County is experiencing a unique countertrend among Montana’s rural counties. According to new research, it’s become known for grassroots entrepreneurship and growth. One example, the Central Montana Food Hub, aims to improve the area's business infrastructure and local food access.

A major settlement between states, the Federal Trade Commission and John Deere marks a step forward for farmers' “right to repair.” The Columbia Falls Aluminum Company will pay $57 million to clean up its former aluminum smelter in the Flathead Valley. The site is contaminated with arsenic, cyanide and other toxins from the smelting process.

Montana has some of the largest intact grassland ecosystems in North America. And that same land is also cattle country. Collaborations and innovative techniques that try to bring biodiversity back – from the soil to the sky – are on the rise in Montana, finding a way to try to balance running cattle, saving birds, and maintaining the last of the prairie.

Tariffs, market shifts and economic constraints hit Montana farmers hard last year. A recent analysis from agricultural economists counted six Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies in Montana in 2025 – triple the 2024 total. Farmers say without more support, the trend will continue.

When farmers sell their crops, they usually receive six cents for every dollar you spend on the end product at the grocery store, according to federal data. But a new processing facility is giving farmers a chance to sell a particular crop locally. That could put more money in their pockets.

Surging fuel and fertilizer costs due to the Iran war are hitting Montana farmers hard this spring. This comes on top of cost increases for machinery, labor and gas already in effect. Local producers are coping with the financial strain and looking to legislation aimed at alleviating it, for both farmers and consumers.

Montana’s farmers have been hit particularly hard by the war in Iran. Price increases and market instability are straining producers already under pressure. A federal judge ruled a logging project near Whitefish violated federal environmental laws. A former Montana campaign consultant who pleaded guilty to embezzlement is now in custody.

Montana Farmers Union is working to enhance legislative literacy in rural communities. Events demonstrate how to contact representatives and participate in the legislative session. Ag communities have been impacted by several state and federal policy changes in recent years.