Montana Potato Research and Market Development Program seeks proposals for $70,000 in grant funds

The Montana Potato Research and Market Development Program is seeking proposals to advance opportunities and address the needs of the state potato industry.  Grant funds total $70,000 this funding cycle. Proposals need to be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on October 20, 2015 through fundingmt.org.  Montana is a major producer of potatoes and seed potatoes. In 2014, Montana produced 3,616,000 cwt of potatoes with 276,000 cwt used for seed. The total value of potato production topped $46 million. This year late blight, the same disease responsible for the potato famine, was discovered for the first time in Gallatin County. Producers are hopeful the warm, dry weather and targeted application of fungicides will minimize its impact. More