Montana Ag Network

04/02/2026

“We found greater numbers of bees associated with areas where cattle grazing was present compared to places where a long-term idling or lack of grazing had been the dominant land management for about a decade,” says Montana State University Extension Forage Specialist Hayes Goosey.

Sheep grazing has been helping bee populations thrive at a Lavina sheep and cattle ranch, according to entomologist Hayes Goosey.

03/10/2026

Biocontrol is an alternative to herbicide and hand-pulling w**ds, which you need to repeatedly apply to keep the w**ds down.

The Montana Biocontrol Project uses biocontrol agents, or living things like insects and fungi, to combat invasive w**d infestations.

03/09/2026

The federal government has delayed finalizing new regulations for grizzly bears in the lower 48 states until the end of the year.

03/06/2026

The greenhouse uses the earth’s natural temperature to help regulate conditions during Montana’s extreme winters. Quinn says the design allows him to test crops that typically wouldn’t survive in the state’s zone three climate.

Bob Quinn's subterranean greenhouse outside Big Sandy is testing whether tropical and stone fruits can survive Montana winters and sparking a bigger conversation about local food.

02/23/2026

From harvest to packaging, the focus remains on consistency, something especially important for producers who attach their own name and brand to the beef they sell.

A Montana co-op is giving producers guaranteed access to processing, USDA certification, and new markets for beef, bison, hogs and sheep.

02/12/2026

With pastures and room to spare, they got more and more animals. Then in 2024, they made things official, becoming a registered nonprofit.

https://www.kpax.com/news/montana-ag-network/montana-ag-network-embracing-nonsense-at-the-nonsense-ranch?fbclid=IwY2xjawP7I6lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeQ2c5p3iBDIeLGn5CT3ctRPC3Whlb2M06e_u8fBY61GJ_qqnmNQ3hUK6F_00_aem_otXHuBeqQt9aVDjSMYrIhg

The Nonsense Ranch in Missoula celebrates animals for their special needs and their special personalities. The Robbins, the couple behind the animal sanctuary, keep the ranch running with help from the community. (story + video in comments) ⬇️

02/06/2026

“So many of our customers are just so overjoyed to receive their bouquet every week,” Daugherty said. “Some of them have become family to us. You can see how much these flowers brighten their lives.”

“We’ve been growing cut flowers for eight years now, and about four years ago we started our tulip growing in the wintertime,” Virginia explained.

01/13/2026

Dusty Hahn is a 5th-generation Montanan rancher, with his family ranching here since the late 1800s, and he's keeping the family tradition alive, doing his part in growing the organization that started it all.

Dusty Hahn is a 5th-generation Montanan rancher, with his family ranching here since the late 1800s, and he's doing his part in growing the organization that started it all.

01/08/2026

Supporters of the feasibility study say Montana’s position as a fine-wool leader has outpaced the state’s processing infrastructure.

Much of Montana’s wool still leaves the state before it is ever turned into yarn, fabric, or finished products.

01/07/2026

“You just grin and bear it and you start again. And so that’s kind of how we look at life and we look at farm life,” said Kimber Lucier, owner of Peacefield Farm. “That’s what we’ll do with the bees. It’s not the end. It’s a restart.”

A December windstorm damaged part of Peacefield Farm in Sanders County. The winds wiped out most of the beehives, but not the family's passion for agriculture. (story + video in comments) ⬇️

12/22/2025

Nearly every ingredient in the marinara sauce is sourced locally, allowing Montana farmers to sell their vegetables at premium prices while keeping money within the local economy.

Mission West's Ronan facility installs automated bottling system to produce shelf-stable marinara sauce from local vegetables for schools.

12/16/2025

As Brain Grain continues to grow, so does the impact of the partnership behind it. It’s blending education, entrepreneurship, and community pride into a project that began in a classroom and is now headed beyond the state.

“Brain Grain,” a Kamut-based snack produced by Big Sandy Organics in Big Sandy, is a student-created project developed through Box Elder School’s business class.