Cale Nittinger
Moiese Valley, MT
On 18 acres in Montana’s Moiese Valley, just east of the Flathead River and west of the Mission Mountains, Cale Nettinger has been farming Ploughshare Farm for 18 years. He grows daikon, Rumba carrots, and Tadorna leeks for Triple Divide Seed Cooperative, along with vegetables for the Western Montana Growers Co-op.
Daikon holds a special place in his fields and kitchen — it’s a short-season crop, easy to grow to seed, simple to clean, and a staple he’s cultivated for years.
One of the best parts of farm life is having his daughter work alongside him. Montana’s short but intense growing season keeps him focused during the growing season. When the fields are quiet, he heads to the mountains to ski or hike.
His advice for new growers: start small, grow slowly, and build over time. He expresses a special thanks to Leslie and Judy at Triple Divide for encouraging him to dive deeper into seed production.