Ian B

Counties of interest

Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Chouteau, Flathead, Gallatin, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Mineral, Missoula, Park Livingston, Ravalli, Sanders, Yellowstone

Planned Operation

Large Animal (cattle, sheep, goats), Small Animal (pigs, rabbits, poultry), Vegetable, Fruit/Orchard, Other

Check all experience and education that apply to you and your farming partners

Farm/Crop management (over 3 years), Informal apprenticeship, General college degree, General farming (over 3 years)

Land Tenure

Buy/Sell, Lease

Briefly describe your current occupation(s) and responsibilities and list previous agricultural employment and experiences. If you are currently farming or ranching, please state the size, type(s), and location of the operation.

Hello, we are Caitlin and Ian, a young couple hoping to buy land and start a farm business in western Montana in the next 2 years. Currently we lease and operate Lowdown Farm in the Moiese valley. We both have held general labor jobs at other farms as well. For the last two years we have been responsible for all operations at Lowdown which is a 40 acre wholesale vegetable farm. We have 5 hoop houses as well as a variety of field crops. including a large garlic seed crop. Our operation here is highly mechanized, we till, spread manure, transplant and cultivate all with tractors and various implements.

Acreage

11-40, 41-100, 101-500

Farming Practices

Organic

Please elaborate on the type(s) of agricultural operation you plan on running.

We envision a business that is based on vegetable production as this is where most of our experience lies. However we would like to incorporate grazing animals and fruit production to increase the diversity and sustainability of our business.

Onsite Housing

Yes

Please elaborate on the kind of additional training/information that would help you:

We have been running our own farm business for 2 years and always see room for improvement and learning. In general we are more confident in our on farm production abilities and would like to improve in the marketing and financial planning departments.