Agriculture

Montana experienced another week with warm temperatures and scattered moisture, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Counties along the northern and western border the state received minimal precipitation this week, with totals at 0.01 inches or less. Areas in the central and southern portion of the state received 0.1 inches or more of rainfall this week, while counties in the southeastern corner received over half an inch.

The organizers of a new program to educate Montanans about meat goats as an income opportunity are hosting two free, public field days that will focus on meat goat production, marketing, predation, regulations and related topics. Registration is required by Wednesday, July 27, for both events.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for more than 3.1 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grassland Signup, the highest in history. The signup’s results include more than 215,000 acres in Montana. This program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and promoting plant and animal biodiversity and conservation, and it’s part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader effort to address climate change and to conserve natural resources.