Montana Department of Agriculture

Commercial Feed Distributors

All commercial feed distributors, feed manufactures and those whose name appears on the label of a commercial feed as guarantor, must obtain a license before conducting business in or into Montana. Each place of business, manufacturing facility, distribution point or point of invoicing must have a license. See the website provided for more information on licensing requirements, renewal procedures, fee schedules, and continuing education requirements that may be applicable to this credential.

Commercial, Noncommercial & Public Utility Applicator

Any person in the business of applying pesticides must obtain an applicator's license from the department. To obtain a license, a person must pass examinations, complete an application form and pay a licensing fee. See the licensing main page for definitions of specific license types. Commercial, non-commercial, special utility and government applicators also must pass exam questions related to pest categories in which they work.

Fertilizer Dealer

Any business that manufactures a commercial fertilizer or soil amendment sold in Montana, or who distributes a commercial fertilizer or soil amendment in Montana needs a fertilizer license. Distributors of un-manipulated animal or vegetable manures and specialty products (specialty fertilizer and soil amendments primarily not for agricultural use) are exempt.

Pesticide Dealers

A dealer is a person who sells, wholesales, exchanges, barters, or gives away in Montana any pesticide except those pesticides intended for home, yard, garden, home orchard, shade trees, ornamental trees, bushes, and lawn.See the website provided for more information on licensing requirements, renewal procedures, fee schedules, and continuing education requirements that may be applicable to this credential.

Private (Farm) Pesticide Applicators

Individuals who wish to purchase and apply restricted use pesticides to land they or their employer own, lease, or rent for the purpose of growing an agricultural commodity or for the maintenance of this property must first become certified as a private applicator. In partnership with the MDA, the Montana State University Extension coordinates the Montana Private Applicator Training Program (PAT) and provides training opportunities for certification.

Produce Dealer

A produce dealer license is required for any person who wholesales produce in the state, transports produce from out of state into Montana for retail sales, or retails produce grown by the produce dealer in Montana when gross retail sales exceed $25,000 annually.See the website provided for more information on licensing requirements, renewal procedures, fee schedules, and continuing education requirements that may be applicable to this credential.

Seed Dealer

Who Needs A Seed Dealer License Any seed dealer distributing seed in MontanaAny person whose name appears on the label as a seed labelerAny facility that conditions seedAny Montana producer selling their own production with a gross annual sales value of more than $5,000Any person who sells and or labels seed that he or she produces, and has gross annual sales of $5,000.00 or more.