Montana’s wide-open spaces and fluctuating climate make water a precious resource. Across the state, irrigation is central not only to agriculture but also to the health of residential landscapes and community green spaces. From century-old canal systems feeding hay fields to backyard sprinklers keeping lawns green in dry summers, water use in Montana requires careful Read More…
Pollinators are the backbone of the food webs that humans, and nearly every animal on earth, are part of. Scientists estimate that 87% of flowering plant species and many of the leading global food crops rely on pollinators to produce seeds. And here in Montana, native and nonnative pollinators forage on almost 40 of the agricultural Read More…
We can thank pollinators for at least every third bite of food we eat. Approximately 75% of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of our food crops rely on animal pollinators to reproduce (MT NRCS). They’re essential not only for fruits and vegetables, but also for crops that provide us with spices, medicines, raw materials, Read More…
The Gallatin Valley Farm Fair hosted more than 1,100 local fourth grades earlier this month. The annual event gives local students a chance to experience agriculture and livestock and working with the land.
U.S. egg prices hit another record high in March costing $6.227 per dozen on average, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Egg prices are up from $5.897 per dozen in February and $4.146 per dozen at the end of 2024.
Local lawmakers helped advance a bill through the Montana House that would ban the sale of lab-grown meat in the state. The bill, HB 401, passed the Montana House of Representatives on March 6 with the help of Rep. Jedediah Hinkle (R-HD 67), and his brother, Rep. Caleb Hinkle (R-HD 68) who both represent portions Read More…
Jim Bryson and Martin Kimm were honored March 14 at the Annual AG Appreciation Banquet in Bozeman. Kimm was recognized with the 2025 Outstanding Farmer/Rancher Award. Martin Kimm Gallatin AG Committee Jim Bryson Gallatin AG-Committee
U.S. President Donald Trump is cutting $1 billion in federal funding for schools, food banks and preschools to buy food from local farmers and ranchers. The programs, which have been utilized in Montana and other states, aim to help connect local farmers with the local school and food banks with a focus on lower-income communities. Read More…
Record-high U.S. egg prices could increase 41.1% this year, according to new projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Egg prices are already at a record $4.95 per dozen nationally, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank.
Two recent University of Montana studies are demystifying how increasing wildfires and hotter annual temperatures limit forest regeneration in the Western U.S., revealing that our capacity to plant trees can’t keep pace with reforestation needs. The first UM study was led by Solomon Dobrowski, a researcher in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation. Read More…
Nick Rodgers knows the pain of record-high egg prices as much as anyone. Rodgers is co-owner of Main Street Overeasy, a popular breakfast and lunch restaurant in Bozeman, Montana. Meghan Sasser U.S. egg prices are at record levels and could go even higher this year. Wikimedia Commons / www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos President Donald Trump Read More…
HELENA — A pair of bills aimed at closing loopholes that may make it too easy for Montana property owners to qualify for hefty property tax benefits intended for farms and ranches got their initial hearings before the Montana Legislature last week, drawing hours of commentary from supporters and opponents. House Bill 27, heard Friday Read More…
Inflation came in hotter than expected for January with high prices for housing and insurance as well as eggs and the expected impacts of tariffs confronting President Donald Trump in the first weeks of his second term in office. The Consumer Price Index for January showed prices up 3% over the past year and 0.5% Read More…
Every farm, ranch, or business eventually faces the challenge of transition. Determining who will inherit and sustain a family’s hard-earned legacy is a critical decision for the future. This is especially true for family farms and ranches, where the stakes are deeply personal. In 1990, at age 29, Ric Holden and his wife, Jan, bought Read More…