Building a new Toolbox for Montana’s Ag Producers

Farmers and ranchers in Montana are very familiar with the tools of their trade.  Whatever issue gets thrown their way- broken down equipment, bad weather, or shaky economy – the producers of Montana are constantly reaching into their literal and figurative toolbox to solve the issue.

But what happens when there is no tool because the problem is relatively unknown?  Unpredictable markets, more variable weather, longer growing seasons, and other factors are contributing to increased uncertainty for Montana’s farmers and ranchers.  These challenges are on the minds of many, and the tools needed to address them are now being developed.

Enter the Transition Agriculture program.  This effort is being developed to guide the producers of today into the agriculture of tomorrow.  The outcome will be a clearinghouse to provide farmers and ranchers in Montana with unbiased, practical, and easily accessible information regarding weather and water variability.

The pilot project will provide improved access to information, programs, and other support available in the state through a web-based format.  The comprehensive and digestible information will help landowners across the state to capitalize upon changing markets and adapt to changing precipitation and drought patterns.

The program is an effort of the Montana Association of Conservation Districts, Montana Watershed Coordination Council and One Montana.   The partners in this effort seek to bridge the divide between different sources of information, and today’s agriculture producers can help by adding resources and describing needs.

A website for the initiative has been created and can be found at www.transitionagriculture.org.    The site is intended to gather input and resources as the program moves forward.

Since the youth of today are the agricultural producers of tomorrow, there is a unique contest to gather their suggestions for the answers that the future will demand.   Participating youth will describe their solutions for a made-up scenario, with the winning essayist receiving a $1,000 scholarship.  The deadline for submittal is August 29^th.

As we enter into an unknown arena for the future of Montana’s farmers and ranchers, the best approach is to gather the questions of today and pair them with solutions for the future.   Log on to the website to learn more.

Sunni Heikes-Knapton