Agriculture Development Council Convenes in Helena, Reviews Policy Updates

The Agriculture Development Council convened Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room 315 of the Montana Department of Agriculture to receive reports and take up general updates. The meeting combined in person attendance with a remote participation option via Zoom, and virtual access information was available through the department.

The council, appointed by the governor, sets policies and priorities intended to enhance the future development of agriculture in Montana. That mandate covers a wide range of issues that touch local producers, from potential grant and technical assistance programs to efforts that influence market access and value added enterprises. For Lewis and Clark County, decisions and discussions at council meetings inform county level planning, the direction of partnership opportunities and the allocation of resources that support farms and rural businesses.

Residents and stakeholders who sought to join the December 12 meeting remotely were invited to request access information by emailing Bailey Kaskie at bailey.kaskie@mt.gov. Additional contacts for the Montana Department of Agriculture include Bailey Kaskie at (406) 444 0134 and Logan Kruse at (406) 444 3684. The department posts meeting agendas and materials on its website at agr.mt.gov/GTA for those seeking detailed background on items considered by the council.

While the council's work is rooted in Montana priorities, its policy choices also relate to broader market dynamics and regulatory trends that affect agricultural trade and supply chains beyond state lines. Local producers and food businesses in Lewis and Clark County should monitor council outcomes because those outcomes can influence funding opportunities, technical support and the regulatory environment for agriculture in the months ahead.

Those interested in future council meetings or in obtaining records from the December 12 session can contact the Montana Department of Agriculture directly at the phone numbers or email addresses listed above, or consult the department website for agendas and public meeting information.