Photo courtesy Western Ag Research Center
Western Agricultural Research Center’s vineyard program manager, Amy Darling, harvests some grapes from the center’s vineyard.
Finding help: Resources for your horticultural endeavors PATRICK MANGAN MSU Missoula County Extension Agent
Planning and implementing a horticultural enterprise can be an engaging, exciting, and stressful time. There are a lot of important pieces to consider in the design and selection of components of any farm, and those needs can be even more important when building out a perennial cropping system with a high cost of infrastructure and investments at the outset of the budding business. Don’t run off and make quick decisions. Instead spend the time necessary to dig deeply into your new enterprise. Doing the intellectual heavy lifting during the planning stages can save you time, money, and ultimately lead you to good success. And don’t go it all alone. There are a host of resources and support services and organizations ready to help you, provide services and advise, and supply a community of fellow farm-
ers and horticulturalists that are moving collaboratively in the same direction to build the whole industry. Below are some good starting points to contact for additional information. Helping hands and solid information: Contact your local Montana State University Extension office. MSU County Extension Agents can provide services and advice on a host of land management strategies. From soil testing, to plant cultivar selections, Extension professionals have access to up-to-date research based information on cultivar trials, plants communities, soils, and many other topics in agricultural enterprise development. You can find your local MSU Extension Office and Extension Agents here: https:// www.msuextension.org/ Local economic development agencies and business development centers can help new and beginning agricultural business owners develop business plans, marketing plans, find resources, and apply for grant and funding sources. The Mission West Community Development Partners is a great
