Resources · Producers
For producers.
Strengthen the whole operation — not just the business, but the soil, the animals, the financing, and the connections around it. This is where we'll gather the tools, guides, and contacts most useful to producers.
We look wider than the balance sheet. Soil health, animal health, where vertical integration could pay off, what grants are open, and who you should be talking to — connected, in one place.
The library
On the shelf for producers.
A growing set of guides, programs, and people worth knowing. What's here is real and useful today — and I add to it as the work surfaces more.
Soil & animal health
The fundamentals under the operation — working for you, not against you.
- Knowledge base MSU Extension — Ag & Natural ResourcesUniversity research applied to real operations: agronomy, livestock, range — and the county agents and specialists behind it. montana.edu ↗
- Knowledge base ATTRA — Sustainable AgriculturePractical guides on soil, grazing, and livestock from the national program headquartered in Butte — with a free "Ask an Ag Expert" line. attra.ncat.org ↗
Grants & funding
Programs open to Montana producers right now. Ask me about which fits — and about writing the application that wins.
- Grant Growth Through Agriculture — Montana Dept. of AgricultureState grants to $50k and loans to $100k for value-added projects: equipment, construction, marketing, consultants. agr.mt.gov ↗
- Grant Western SARE — Farmer/Rancher grantsUp to ~$25–30k for producer-driven research and trials on your own operation, with a technical advisor alongside. western.sare.org ↗
- Grant USDA Value-Added Producer GrantFederal planning grants to $50k and working capital to $200k for producer-owned, value-added businesses. rd.usda.gov ↗
Markets & the value chain
Where it could pay to capture more of the chain — processing, direct sales, the right buyer.
- Network Montana Food & Ag Development CentersFree statewide business help for value-added ag — planning, financing, regulatory guidance, and grant support. agr.mt.gov ↗
- Directory Abundant MontanaThe state's largest local-food directory — get your operation listed, see who's buying, and find who's selling what. abundantmontana.com ↗
Know something that belongs on this shelf? Send it my way →
In your corner
Stuck on something specific?
Tell us the pinch point — soil, financing, a grant, a buyer — and we'll get to work on it with you.
Start a conversation →