Through partnerships with universities, conservation groups, and industry leaders, our farm serves as a testing ground for practices that strengthen both the harvest and the habitat.
Through partnerships with universities, conservation groups, and industry leaders, our farm serves as a testing ground for practices that strengthen both the harvest and the habitat.
Our approach is simple: use science and collaboration to make farming stronger. From working with UC Davis to Ducks Unlimited, we partner with organizations that share our vision for agriculture that’s innovative and resilient.
Many of these ideas — like extending winter habitat or improving salmon survival — are now everyday practices on our land. The result is measurable progress for our partners, healthier ecosystems for wildlife, and reliable harvests for buyers.
Situated in the heart of the pacific flyway of the Pacific Flyway, our farm is positioned to care for millions of animals throughout the year.
Through our conservation easements, we can produce much more than premium short grain rice –we can provide wetlands that serve both people and wildlife, and support food systems and ecosystems for future generations.
use California’s rice fields each year, including birds, snakes, and other critters.
of Montna farmland under conservation easement
Early fall flooding on our lands support shorebird and cranes.
ducks and geese that migrate down the Pacific Flyway
improved growth rates observed in juvenile salmon near managed floodplain water
waterbird species documented on our farm, following implementation of variable drawdown practices
By strategically releasing water rich in zooplankton from post-harvest fields, Montna Farms reconnects rivers with the food sources they’ve lost to levees. Juvenile salmon feeding downstream grew three times faster than fish without access to this food web — proof that smart water management can help endangered species recover.
Rather than draining fields all at once, Montna reduces water levels gradually — holding habitat weeks longer than the industry standard. This simple shift has attracted 35 species of waterbirds and provides vital food sources as millions of birds migrate through the Pacific Flyway.
Montna is among the first rice farms in California to adopt alternative wetting and drying methods at scale. By drawing down water for just seven days during the growing cycle, methane emissions fall by 40–60% — all while maintaining yields.
