Bozeman Agricultural Research and Teaching Farm (BART Farm)

BART Farm
2730 West Garfield
Bozeman, MT 59718

The Bozeman Agricultural Research and Teaching Farm (BART Farm), formerly known as the Towne Farm, is located west the main MSU campus off 19th Avenue. It comprises 474 acres and includes the Oscar Thomas Nutrition Center, Miller Pavilion, Horseshoeing School and Horticulture Farm.

BART also has a research feedlot, Calan gate facility, GrowSafe system, feedmill and artificial insemination building. Surrounding pastures and hayfields help support the animals housed there, including beef cattle, sheep and horses. The farm is dedicated to the service and support of research, teaching and extension activities relating mainly to animals and animal management.

Kellen Marlow

Kellen Marlow 

Livestock Operations Manager

Arthur H. Post Agronomy Farm

We have a new interactive map of the Post Farm! You can find it here.

8431 Huffine Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718

(Mailing address: 321 Schaff Way, Bozeman, MT, 59718)

The Post Farm is a 254 acre site located west of Bozeman on Huffine Lane dedicated to the development of new wheat and barley varieties, cropping systems research, seed increase through Foundation Seed and research to control weeds in small grains, with particular emphasis on plant breeding programs.

Lutz Farm

7970 McGuire Rd
Belgrade, MT 59714

The Lutz farm is a 600-acre farm north of Bozeman dedicated to growing crop varieties for the Montana Foundation Seed Program. 

Dave Gettel

David Gettel 

Farm Operations Manager
406-586-6819
 

Red Bluff Research Ranch

Highway 84
Box 2815
Norris, MT 59745

The 10,803-acre Red Bluff Ranch is located near Norris in Madison County, Montana, along the west side of the Madison River and is used for both teaching and research. Most of this ranch is rangeland with cattle and sheep maintained year round, as well as limited hay meadows along the valley bottoms. Elevations range from 4,600 feet to 6,200 feet above the Madison River canyon. 

Red Bluff

Red Bluff was settled in 1864 as a mining town and stage station on the Bozeman Road. During its heyday, Red Bluff had two gold mills, various stores, businesses, a school, post office and 12 saloons. This stone home was erected in 1867 as the office and residence of James Isaacs, field superintendent for a New York City gold mining company. As the gold mining enterprise was failing, the owners abandoned the office-residence in 1868. In 1870 Virginia City merchant Frederick Merk picked up the building at a Madison County Sheriff's sale and sold it to Robert Foster in 1877. At 35 miles from Bozeman, it was half-way to Virginia City and a good place for a stage stop and hotel, which was how Foster used it. "Foster's Hotel" later sold to Franklin Weaver and then Albert Tanner. It continued in use as a hotel until about 1916, when it was purchased by the Rowe Brothers for a ranch. The Rowes sold it to MSU in 1956 for use as part of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. A fire in 2006 destroyed the stone structure. Photo and history courtesy of www.mtghosttowns.com. 

Noah Davis

Noah Davis 

Red Bluff Ranch Foreman

noahdavis3@montana.edu
406-685-3301 

Fort Ellis Research Farm

33336 East Frontage Road
Bozeman, MT 59715

Situated on a historic U.S. Cavalry fort on the eastern edge of Bozeman, the Fort Ellis Research Farm includes approximately 640 acres and was dedicated in 1930 as a “headquarters for the range sheep investigations” conducted by the MAES. This facility plays a large part in research and teaching in the areas of sheep, beef cattle and horses. 

Montana Wool Lab

P.O. Box 172900
Bozeman, MT 59717-2900

The Montana Wool Lab is one of only two wool research and service laboratories in the United States, analyzing wool from producers across the country for fiber characteristics, such as diameter and staple length. These analyses are required for producers to enroll in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP), the only American organization to offer U.S. sheep producers a proven genetic selection system to use to improve flock productivity and quality. Furthermore, seed stock producers are encouraged to have wool analyzed for possible purchasers so they know the wool quality of the animal, as wool is a moderately heritable trait.

The Montana Wool Lab collaborates with scientists and personnel at the University of Wyoming, New Mexico State University, University of Nevada, University of Minnesota, Texas A&M University, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Sheep Experiment Station and National Sheep Industry Improvement Center and remains a leader in fiber research in the United States.

Sarah Maninger Wool Lab Manager

Sarah Maninger

Wool Lab Manager

Liz Deurmeier

Liz Deurmeier

Wool Lab Research Associate

Horticulture Farm

2730 West Garfield
Bozeman, MT 59718 

The Horticulture Farm, located at the BART Farms, is ten acres of land, eight of which are cultivated. There are also seven high tunnels. The Hort Farm supports horticulture teaching (turf grass management and organic market gardening) and research programs in PSPP, LRES, and Electrical Engineering.

The Hort Farm is also home to Towne’s Harvest Garden, a three-acre diversified vegetable and educational research farm that supports a student-run, community-supported agriculture program. Towne’s Harvest Garden promotes learning about food production, the value of eating and supporting local foods, community building and individual empowerment. Much of the research from the MAES Small Farms Program research takes place at the Horticulture Farm.   

Plant Growth Center  

MSU Campus (11th Ave)
Bozeman, MT 59717

David Baumbauer

David Baumbauer 

Manager, Plant Growth Center & Horticulture Farm 

406-994-2231
baumbauer@montana.edu

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Allison Rognlie

Assistant Manager, Plant Growth Center & Horticulture Farm