Flathead Beacon

Montana is facing a chronic agricultural labor shortage and the state's Labor Department has a new plan to help.

Montana DLI is adding agriculture to its registered apprenticeship program, connecting retiring farmers with young people eager to learn the trade. Meanwhile, with 2,800 producers on the waitlist for H-2A foreign worker visas, the state is also working to fast-track that program for overwhelmed rural operations.

📖 Today's Daily Roundup: https://flatheadbeacon.com/newsletters/the-daily-roundup-montana-labor-department-adds-agriculture-to-registered-apprenticeship-program-as-chronic-labor-shortage-persists/

🌾 Montana grain farmers are in the toughest economic environment many have ever seen.

Farm production costs have surged 40% since 2018 while commodity prices sink for the third straight year.

📖 Full story: https://flatheadbeacon.com/2026/06/18/montana-grain-farmers-face-economic-downturn-amid-historic-inflation-and-low-commodity-prices/

🏠 City councilors unanimously approved a new Housing Study Advisory Committee to guide a $126,000 affordable housing study funded through a HUD grant. The seven-member committee already has significant community interest and will help develop a study that needs to be completed by next May.

📖 Full story: https://flatheadbeacon.com/2026/06/16/kalispell-establishes-temporary-housing-study-advisory-committee/