Title 90, Title 90

(Temporary) Powers and duties of council. (1) The council shall: (a) establish policies and priorities to enhance the future development of agriculture in Montana, including the Indian reservations in the state; (b) make loans or grants, pursuant to the provisions of Title 90, ch…

(Temporary) Rulemaking. The council shall adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, including rules: (1) governing the conduct of council business; (2) establishing application procedures for loans and grants authorized in 90-9-202; (3) establishing appli…

(1) There is an agriculture seed capital account administered by the council. Money received by the council under 90-9-306 must be deposited in this account. (2) The council may loan or grant money from the agriculture seed capital account, pursuant to the provisions of 90-9-308 …

(Temporary) Appropriation authority and funding -- prohibitions. (1) The council may accept and expend the funds that it receives from grants, donations, or other private or public income, including amounts repaid as principal and interest on loans made by the council. These fund…

The council shall develop independent review and audit procedures to ensure that loans and grants made by it are used for the specified purposes.

(1) All applicants shall complete an application and provide financial information as established by rule. (2) The council may not make a loan or grant unless the recipient provides matching funds prior to the expenditure of any state funds. The council may accept as matching fun…

(1) The term of any loan may not exceed 8 years. (2) The amount of any loan may not exceed $100,000 in any 9-month period. (3) Repayment of a loan is due in full upon dissolution or liquidation of the recipient company. (4) The council may make a low-interest loan, at a rate esta…

(1) A grant does not accrue interest, but is contingent on the funds being used for the specified purpose. (2) The council may make a grant of up to $50,000 if an application meets all of the criteria set forth in 90-9-308 and 90-9-311 and one of the following applies: (a) the pr…

The council may make a loan or grant only if the council determines that: (1) the loan or grant is consistent with the findings and purposes of this chapter because it primarily adds value to Montana's agricultural products; (2) the project for which the loan or grant is made has…

As directed by the council, the department shall assist in identification and development of new domestic and foreign markets for Montana agricultural products. This includes: (1) assisting in placing one full-time professional marketing person in Japan or another Pacific Rim cou…

As directed by the council, the department shall provide professional assistance to persons who apply for financial assistance for the purpose of developing export sales of Montana agricultural products.

(Temporary) Montana farmer loan repayment assistance program. There is a Montana farmer loan repayment assistance program administered by the council in consultation with the cooperative extension service. The program must provide for the direct repayment of educational loans of …

(Temporary) Eligibility -- amount of loan repayment assistance. (1) A farmer is qualified for loan repayment assistance if the farmer: (a) is a resident of Montana whose primary occupation is to operate a farm; (b) has graduated from a postsecondary institution as defined in 20-2…

(Temporary) Payments to be made directly to educational loan servicer. (1) In administering the Montana farmer loan repayment assistance program, the council shall ensure the payments on behalf of a qualified farmer are paid directly to the educational loan servicer. (2) A qualif…

(Temporary) Loan repayment assistance documentation. A qualified farmer shall submit an application for loan repayment assistance to the council in accordance with rules adopted by the council. The application must include official verification or proof of the applicant's total u…

(Temporary) Funding -- priorities. If the funding for this part in any year is less than the total amount of loan repayment assistance for which farmers qualify, the council shall work with the cooperative extension service to develop a method to prioritize loan repayment assista…