• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Organic Seed Alliance

Advancing ethical seed solutions to meet food and farming needs in a changing world

  • News
  • Programs
    • Research
    • Education
    • Advocacy
  • Publications
    • All Publications
    • How-to Guides
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Worksheets & Record-keeping
    • Conference Proceedings
  • Resources
    • State of Organic Seed
    • Organic Seed Producers & Intern Host Farm Directory
    • Variety Trial Tool
    • Seed Patent Watch
    • Seed Internship Program & Organic Seed Production Online Course
    • Seed Economics Toolkit
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Organic Seed Growers Conference
    • COVID-19 Protocols
  • Media
  • About
    • Staff Directory
    • Board & Advisors
    • Our Story
    • Our Values
    • Our Alliance
    • Commitment to Racial Equity
    • Business Partners
    • Annual Report
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
  • Give

December 15, 2016

New Report Describes Organic Seed Needs for Montana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2016

CONTACT
Kristina (Kiki) Hubbard, Organic Seed Alliance, kristina@seedalliance.org, (406) 544-8946

New Report Describes Organic Seed Needs for Montana 
The assessment is based on a statewide survey of vegetable operations

Missoula, MT – Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) announced the release of a report today that details the organic seed needs of vegetable growers in Montana. The findings are based on a statewide survey conducted earlier this year as part of a bigger project to advance collaborative research, education, and outreach that results in more organic seed options for Montana’s growers.

Organic acreage in Montana continues to increase alongside the national demand for organic products. In a five-year period (2007-2011), organic vegetable acreage in Montana experienced a five-fold increase. The National Organic Program requires that certified producers use organic seed when available. Although the organic specialty seed industry is growing, the supply is still insufficient to fully meet the diverse and regional needs of all growers.

“The supply is especially limited for vegetable seed adapted to Montana’s climate and environmental conditions,” says Karl Sutton, owner of Fresh Roots Farm in Polson. “This reality is a challenge, but also a tremendous opportunity for farmers who want to grow seed organically for their farm or the commercial market.”

Sutton is one of the founders of Triple Divide Organic Seeds, a nine-member seed cooperative with the mission of developing plant varieties that grow well in Montana and other northern latitudes. Triple Divide is a collaborator in this assessment and other state-based research.

About 40 stakeholders responded to the survey, including nearly all certified organic vegetable operations in the state. The survey captured challenges growers face in sourcing organic seed and asked them to identify vegetable crops in need of improvement, including desirable traits. The crops growers identified as priorities include tomatoes, carrots, peppers, kale, and onions.

The survey findings will inform current and future organic seed research and education in the state, including organic variety trials that began this year, on-farm crop improvement projects, and educational events targeting growers who want to hone their seed production skills.

“The momentum behind building a regional seed system in Montana is exciting,” says OSA’s Kiki Hubbard, author of the report. “More than 80% of the farmers who responded to our survey want to participate in on-farm research to advance organic seed. This response shows great potential for training more Montana farmers in organic plant breeding and seed production to help fill supply gaps and establish a strong network of seed stewards.”

“The most promising outcome of Montana’s burgeoning seed movement will be a resilient seed system that adapts to ever-changing climate, production, and market needs,” Hubbard adds.

Resources:

Montana Organic Seed Assessment: Vegetables, 2016 can be downloaded at www.seedalliance.org/publications.

State of Organic Seed, 2016 is another OSA publication that provides national context. It can be downloaded at www.stateoforganicseed.org.

This project is supported by the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Kiki Hubbard

Kristina (Kiki) Hubbard is the director of advocacy and communications for Organic Seed Alliance. She currently leads efforts to promote policies and actions that support organic seed systems, including managing OSA’s State of Organic Seed project.

Latest Tweets

Thanks to @chelliepingree for joining NSAC’s summer mtg this afternoon & for identifying farmer-driven policy solutions to our climate crisis 🌎 @sustainableag pic.twitter.com/nTxr…

Last week · reply · retweet · favorite

Interested in organic policy work? The Coalition for #Organic & Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) has a position open to help advance their WA-based policy goals. More details below. twitter.com/tilthall…

About 3 weeks ago · reply · retweet · favorite

"It’s not too late to change course...The administration would be wise to choose that path." – OSA's Kiki Hubbard on @USDAgov's inquiry on competition concerns in the seed industry as related to Intellectual Property Rights #IPR. @thehill thehill.com/opinion/…

About 2 months ago · reply · retweet · favorite

🌟 Thanks for joining last week's Showcase, @plantgoodseed!! twitter.com/plantgoo…

About 2 months ago · reply · retweet · favorite

✏️ 1 week left to MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Submit comments on seed industry #consolidation and #IPR to USDA through June 15. (1/5) seedalliance.org/202…

About 2 months ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Follow @Seed_Alliance

Footer

Advancing ethical seed solutions to meet food and farming needs in a changing world

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 Organic Seed Alliance · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design