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Press release GREAT FALLS - Every year, the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee funds the National Agricultural Statistics Service Montana wheat and barley variety surveys. The 2024 report released Friday, Sept. 13, spoke loudly about the impact wheat stem sawfly has on growers and the entire supply chain. This grower survey clearly shapes how the industry develops new varieties and it plays a major role in determining what Montana producers plant. Here are responses that...
Press release Two national cattle organizations, United States Cattlemen’s Association and R-CALF USA will co-host the “Livestock Producers Freedom Rally” in Rapid City, South Dakota, Oct. 7, 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. Mountain Time in the Rushmore Room of the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center. The event will focus primarily on animal identification, with speakers to address the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s rule mandating electronic identification ear tags for cattle and bis...
Press release As part of his continued effort support Montana small businesses and agricultural producers, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont, secured $1,399,985 for Old Salt Meat Company to finance meat processing in the state. Old Salt Meat Company is a cooperatively owned livestock processor focused on driving value and return to producers while helping consumers access to locally raised beef. The funding will be used to establish a USDA-inspected slaughter facility, scale up their fabrication space under USDA inspection, and...
Press release Sept. 11, the public comment period for the USDA’s proposed Packers and Stockyards Act rules came to a close. Members of the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), Northern Plains Resource Councils (NPRC), Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA), Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI), stand firmly behind the proposed rule, believing it will effectively combat the unfair practices of meatpacker monopolies and protect r...
WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as H5N1 infection in their dairy herds. USDA’s Farm Service Agency expanded ELAP through the rule-making process to assist with a portion of financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cat...
MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press Colorado wildlife officials said Monday that they captured and plan to relocate five members of the first pack of wolves to form under the state's ambitious wolf reintroduction program. A sixth wolf - the pack's adult male - was captured but died in captivity due to injuries unrelated to its capture, officials said. That wolf had been involved in repeated attacks on livestock and officials said it would have been kept in captivity if it...
Press release WASHINGTON — National Farmers Union and the U.S. Department of Agriculture today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address staffing levels and improve customer service at USDA Farm Service Agency county-level offices. Under this MOU, NFU and USDA will work together to gather feedback on the experiences of family farmers and ranchers when interacting with FSA staff and the programs they deliver. By hosting listening sessions in local communities, NFU will provide a platform for farmers to share their c...
Anne Cantrell MSU News Service BOZEMAN — An edible blue honeysuckle berry called the haskap has emerged in recent years as a potential new superfood, but little scientific research has been done to investigate how the berries contribute to human health. Now, a research partnership at Montana State University aims to learn more about the potential health benefits of haskap berries while also learning how to best cultivate them to maximize those benefits. Mary Miles, professor in the Department of Food Systems, Nutrition and K...
BOONE, IA, Aug. 28, 2024 – At the annual Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Aug. 28 that USDA is partnering with American business owners to expand innovative domestic fertilizer production, creating jobs in rural communities and strengthening local economies. The Department is awarding $35 million for seven projects in seven states through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program — FPEP — which is funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation. This program provi...
Press release WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced over $3.1 million in funding awarded to Montana through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Through this program, the Montana Department of Agriculture will fund projects that strengthen Montana’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research. “We are happy to once again be partnered with Montana on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester...
Press release WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting offers for more than 2.2 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Grassland, General, and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program signups administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency. With these accepted acres, enrollment is very near the 27 million CRP acreage cap. “The popularity of our suite of Conservation Reserve Programs, including the significant success of Grassland Conservation Reserve Program a...
Press release The U.S. Department of Agriculture last week announced the appointment of 20 new members to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, including Alexandria Moxley from Bozeman. The committee is part of USDA’s support for equitable access to USDA’s services and programs and creating more market opportunities for local and regional production. Moxley is a Montana Farmers Union member who participated in the Farmers Union Enterprises Leadership program, as well as founder and owner of A.Moxley Con...
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announces changes Aug. 7 to the Farm Service Agency’s Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25, 2024 — changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable. These improvements, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, available online at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/Laws-Regs/flp_rule_8_5_24.pdf , demonstrate USDA’s commitment to improving farm profitability through farm loa...
Press release In July, Montana Farmers Union hosted participants in the 2024 Farmers Union Enterprise Leadership cohort for their summer leadership training focused on advocacy and leadership. The 19 participants and five supporting staff hail from the five Farmers Union Enterprise states of Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Montana met in Whitefish. The FUEL program workshops at the summer stop focused on learning how to develop and tell your story with the intent of developing a clear pitch for advocacy...
Press release MINNEAPOLIS — On the second anniversary of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Friday that USDA is funding 160 projects in 26 states to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels that will create new market opportunities and jobs for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. The projects will increase American energy security and advance President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to gr...
From Montana Wheat and Barley Committee GREAT FALLS - Montana harvest has been fast and furious for 2024, with hot temperatures pushing wheat, peas and other crops to rapidly ripen. Montana Wheat and Barley Committee staff have been out with producers and are anxious to share numbers as winter wheat pours into the bin at an accelerated pace. "We are hearing from the Billings region to north of Great Falls that yields are anywhere from 40 to 85 bushels per acre, with some...
Press release BILLINGS — As we go through the critical harvest season, the Bureau of Land Management emphasizes the importance of fire prevention, particularly regarding human-caused fires related to agricultural operations. These fires can have devastating effects on our public lands, fields, equipment, and local communities. To mitigate the risk of fire, we urge farmers and agricultural workers to consider the following safety measures: 1. Regular equipment maintenance: Regular checks on agricultural machinery for potential...
Press release WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $400 million with at least 18 irrigation districts to help farmers continue commodity production while also conserving water across the West. This funding — which will support irrigation districts and producers in using innovative water savings technologies and farming practices while producing water-saving commodities in the face of continued drought — is expected to conserve up to 50,000 acre-feet in water...
Press release WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will make an additional $300 million available through the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program to help grow export markets for American farm and food products around the world, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced Monday. “Access to international markets supports U.S. farmers at home and food security throughout the world,” Torres Small said. “USDA launched RAPP last year as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to create...
USDA in Montana reminds agricultural producers of important Farm Service Agency (FSA) program dates. Contact your local service center to apply and with any questions. Visit online at https://farmers.gov and Https://fsa.usda.gov/mt. Aug. 1, 2024, was the deadline to request a farm reconstitution or farm transfer for 2024. Aug. 1, 2024, was the final date to return nomination forms for the 2024 County Committee Election Cycle to the Count Offices or for nominations to be post marked. Aug. 14, 2024: ERP 2022 Track 1 and Track...
Press release HELENA — Bearing in mind recent storms throughout the state, the Montana Department of Agriculture is reminding producers that when there is a hail loss, it is the participating producers’ responsibility to inform the Hail Insurance Program of the loss within 14 days of the storm. Producers can call, email, or mail/fax in their completed loss forms. Applications for State Hail Insurance Policy are available through MDA’s State Hail Insurance Program online at https://agr.mt.gov/I-Want-To/Apply/Hail-Insurance-App...
Press release BOZEMAN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the deadline for commodity and specialty crop producers to apply for the Emergency Relief Program for 2022 natural disaster losses is Aug. 14, 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agenc began accepting ERP 2022 applications in October 2023. “If natural disasters impacted your farm or ranch in 2022, there’s still time to submit your application for Emergency Relief Program assistance,” FSA State Executive Director for Montana Maureen Wicks said. “Don’t de...
From Montana Farmers Union An informative, free mini-seminar about how to successfully grow garlic will be held Saturday, July 27, beginning at 9:15 a.m. at the Green Share Project Garden, 312 W. Washington in Lewistown. The roughly 30-minute presentation will be by a seasoned garlic grower, Roger Lohrer, who will share his experience with growing garlic on their Warm Springs farm. You will learn about soil and preparation, varieties of garlic and where/when to order, planting/watering, overwintering, spring care, harvest...
Press release WASHINGTON-During the American Farm Bureau Council of Presidents in Washington, D.C. last week, Farm Bureau members heard firsthand that an acceptable farm bill remains elusive. The group of Farm Bureau leaders heard from Senator John Boozman, R-Ariz., and Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-MIch., who reiterated that both parties remain committed to passing a Farm Bill. However, they have not yet come to an agreement that is likely to pass both chambers. "It is going to...
Press release HELENA — The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has released its 2024 Montana Drought Outlook Report, and, ccording to the report, much of Montana is facing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions resulting from low snowpack and below average precipitation during spring and early summer. Depending upon accumulated precipitation and temperatures over the next four to six weeks, the net deficits in June could result in the onset of widespread drought by late July. According to the r...
