Vilicus Farms is a first generation, organic, 12,000 acre dryland crop farm in Northern Hill County, Montana growing a diverse array of organic heirloom and specialty grain, pulse, oilseed and broadleaf crops under five and seven-year rotations. In twelve seasons, Vilicus Farms grew from 1,280 acres to a 12,000 acre nationally recognized farm by using USDA’s beginning farmer programs, employing extensive conservation practices, and fostering unique risk sharing relationships with food companies and land investment firms. Over 26% of our land is in non-crop conservation and over 400 acres have been seeded to native pollinator habitat. Vilicus Farms became Bee Better certified in 2019.
Vilicus Training Institute (VTI) launched in 2013 to create conditions that would allow a new generation of land stewards thrive on the Northern Great Plains. Since then, VTI has partnered with the farm in hosting over 11 apprentices, numerous interns and too many farm campers to count.
Pollinators are amazing! Our habitat provide so many other benefits that just a place for insects. It’s a critical component of our overall farming system.
