Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1174258
21 farm406 In Montana, the census showed that farm income dropped nearly 30 percent from 2012 to 2017 but it also showed that nearly 300 farms generated over $9 million dollars last year by further manufacturing or processing raw products. Producers also took more interest in specialty crops. Since 2012, Montana added over 160 new orchards and increased hops production from nearly 0 to 1,400 pounds. We might still be in the get-big-or-get-out era but mid-sized farms may have another choice: diversify-or-get-out. As we drove by his wheat fields, summer fallow fields, alfalfa plots for hay, and a new tri-blend cover crop he is experimenting with, we stop to wander around and look out over what Phil calls their "hill country," rough breaks with pine trees, sage and prairie flowers that eventually drop into the Yellowstone River floodplain. e hill country is excellent habitat for deer, geese and ducks coming off the river, and doves. ese hills, and the habitat they provide, are one part of the Steinberger's efforts to diversify their farm income. People from all over the country come to their farm to hunt and to stay in their two guest houses that they have renovated for this purpose, and they even have RV hook--ups. ey named their business PR Country Comforts which stands for Phil and Renee. "My wife and I renovated the old red barn, we call it Larry's Barn, and we've tried to make the farm an ideal location for people to come and hunt, have family reunions and gatherings, and even some weddings." Phil told me, "We've got people staying here year round." en Phil points out the dozens of bee hives on the edges of the farmed fields. Almost right on cue, his son Drew arrives with his bee boxes stacked in the back of his pickup. Thinking inside the bee box Drew shows his daughter Kinsley a brood frame. A bee brood refers to the eggs, larvae and pupae of honeybees. Each frame which is mainly occupied by brood is called a brood frame. This was Kinsley's first time in a bee suit. Bees crawl around on an unfilled frame that Drew added to the hive.