News you can use
News you can use
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U.S. Department of Agriculture WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a new online tool to help farmers and ranchers better navigate the farm loan application process. This uniform application process will help to ensure all farm loan applicants receive equal support and have a consistent customer experience with USDA’s Farm Service Agency regardless of their individual circumstances. “USDA recognizes more must be done to ensure all customers have equal access to our programs and services,” FSA Adminis...
Montana Farm Service Agency The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering virtual workshops for agricultural producers and stakeholders to learn about the latest updates and improvements to the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and the Micro Farm insurance options, two of the most comprehensive risk management options available. These insurance options are especially important to specialty crop, organic, urban, and direct market producers, and this is part of the USDA’s Risk Management Agency efforts to increase participation i...
Press release The Montana Association of Conservation Districts is funding the Ranching for Rivers program for projects between Spring of 2023 and Fall of 2024, providing a 50% cost share on waterside projects involving the installation of new fencing. In the Hill County region, projects on the Milk River, Beaver Creek, Little Box Elder Creek and Big Sandy Creek are most likely to qualify, but the Hill County Conservation District can help people check the eligibility of other creeks in the county. The program is aimed to...
Staff and wire The USDA Farm Service Agency announced Friday appointees who will serve on the Montana USDA Farm Service Agency state committee. Ryan Lankford of Chinook will chair the committee. Other appointees are: • Casey Bailey, Fort Benton • Steve Carney, Scobey • Sarah Degn, Sidney • Jake Merkel, Whitehall U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., praised the appointees. “I’m pleased to see such a strong group of Montana farmers and ranchers named to our FSA State Committee,” Tester said in a press release. “These individuals wil...
Press release HELENA — Gov. Greg Gianforte and Montana Department of Agriculture Director Christy Clark announced Tuesday a letter of intent for Heineken International Cerveceria Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma — Heineken International — to increase its purchase volume of Montana barley products. “We’re thrilled Heineken recognizes the superior quality of Montana barley and wants to do more business with our farmers,” Gianforte said. “This agreement ushers in tremendous opportunities for our ag industry.” Gianforte signed the lette...
Montana Farmers Union HELENA - For more than 100 years, the Montana Farmers Union Annual Convention has gathered people passionate about agriculture and this year's convention continued the tradition. "We had a great line up of speakers, several leaders from the USDA and MSU updating us on their activities, as well presentations from some innovative members on new markets for meat, soil resilience, rural entrepreneurs, precision ag and more," MFU President Walter Schweitzer...
Montana Farmers Union HELENA - Montana Farmers Union recently recognized several Montana youths for their dedication to agriculture and MFU education programs. The youth, along with several MFU members and locals, were recognized during MFU's 107th Annual Convention held in Helena earlier this month. Receiving the highest youth honor through MFU of becoming a Torchbearer were Shania Van Spyk of Great Falls, Natasia Van Spyk from Great Falls, Robert Jack Anderson of Great...
Montana Farm Bureau Federation The 103rd Montana Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention is slated for Nov. 14-17 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula. Registration is now open, and members can expect to hear top-notch speakers on various topics, discuss policy for the coming year and enjoy the camaraderie with farmers and ranchers from across the state. Highlights of the convention include prominent speakers Ara Megerdichian, Montana State University, who will address leadership skills; Jordan Levi, Arcadia Management, who...
Montana Farm Bureau Federation The Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee encourages any voting Farm Bureau member ages 18-35 to compete in the Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet, which takes place Nov. 15 during the MFBF Annual Convention in Missoula. The winner of the Discussion Meet will receive the keys to a new Polaris Ranger, and an expense-paid trip to participate in the national Discussion Meet held during the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention January 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The...
U.S. Department of Agriculture WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA. The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency whose operations face fin...
HELENA (AP) — A federal administrative law judge has denied a request to block permits that expand bison grazing in north-central Montana while several parties challenge them. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Attorney General Austin Knudsen and the Montana Stockgrowers Association asked the U.S. Interior Department’s hearing division in August to reverse the the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s granting of the permits. Administrative Law Judge Veronica Larvie ruled Oct. 13 that while there were several concerns about the permits,...
Staff and wire report Some of Montana’s congressional candidates will be participating in a town hall this weekend of special interest to agricultural producers and residents of rural areas and communities, as well as the rest of the state. The Montana Farmers Union 2022 Congressional Candidate Town Hall Saturday will focus on ag-related and rural community issues and is set to run from 7-8 p.m. at the Delta Hotels Helena Colonial-Marriott as the conclusion to the grassroots farm organization’s 107th Annual Convention. All...
From the MSU News Service BOZEMAN — The fall 2022 season of “Montana Ag Live” has begun and continues through Nov. 6. The weekly Montana PBS program is hosted by Jack Riesselman, a former Montana State University Extension specialist and professor. “Montana Ag Live” features a variety of MSU College of Agriculture and MSU Extension faculty, as well as other notable guests. The program addresses current issues in agriculture with live answers to questions from viewers across Montana. “‘Montana Ag Live’ has been on the air...
Press release BISMARCK, N.D. — The Northern Pulse Growers Association is set to be a major sponsor, and featured commodity with canola, at the Montana Grain Growers Association Convention this Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 in Great Falls, Montana. In addition to pulses and canola being featured on the agenda, the association along with the Pacific Northwest Canola Association will host a “Meet and Greet” featuring Shaun Haney from RealAgriculture Nov. 28 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The free event will allow attendees to ask questions and b...
Montana Farmers Union WASHINGTON — Federal lawmakers and agencies heard directly from Montanans about what’s impacting their farms and ranches during National Farmers Union’s 2022 Fall Legislative Fly-In held Sept. 11-14 at the nation’s capitol. Fourteen members of Montana Farmers Union joined with more than 250 other producers from around the country for the event that featured briefings with the White House, the USDA and FTC, as well as in-person meetings with members of Congress. Great Falls High seniors Shania and Nat...
from U.S. Department of Agriculture WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced up to $550 million in funding to support projects that enable underserved producers to access land, capital and markets, and train the next, diverse generation of agricultural professionals. The investments are made through funding provided in the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1006, as amended by Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act. The provisions fund and direct USDA to take action to help ensure underserved producers h...
From U.S. Department of Agriculture Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced details of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $300 million investment, including with American Rescue Plan funds, in a new Organic Transition Initiative to provide comprehensive support for farmers transitioning to organic production. This initiative will deliver wrap-around technical assistance, including farmer-to-farmer mentoring; provide direct support through conservation financial assistance and additional crop insurance assistance, and s...
From U.S. Department of Agriculture BOZEMAN — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Montana is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. To be considered for funding in the current cycle, producers and landowners should apply by Oct. 28. “NRCS provides funding and technical assistance to help farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners implement conservation practices that improve their env...
From U.S. Department of Agriculture WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Tribal Relations has released the newest editions of the USDA Resource Guide for American Indians and Alaska Natives 2022 and the USDA Native Youth Resource Guide 2022. Each of these guides provides valuable information to Indian Country and can serve as a roadmap of USDA resources and services available to tribal governments, citizens, and organizations. “USDA is committed to ensuring that tribal nations and communities more ful...
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture welcomed the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which will deliver $19.5 billion in new conservation funding to support climate-smart agriculture. This historic funding will bolster the new steps that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced Monday to improve opportunities for nutrient management. NRCS will target funding, increasing program flexibilities, launch a new outreach campaign to promote nutrient management’s economic benefits, in addition to expan...
From the MSU News Service BOZEMAN — As winter wheat harvest in Montana comes to a close, producers may be thinking about fertilizer decisions for upcoming winter wheat seeding. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and chloride should all be considered in fertility programs, said Clain Jones, soil fertility specialist with Montana State University Extension and professor in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences in the College of Agriculture. Phosphorous and potassium Phosphorus and potassium are i...
Press release BOZEMAN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday that it is awarding $197 million for 41 locally led conservation projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. RCPP is a partner-driven program that leverages partner resources to advance innovative projects that address climate change, enhance water quality, and address other critical challenges on agricultural land. “Our partners are experts in their fields and understand the challenges in their own backyards,” Agriculture Secre...
Montana Farmers Union HIGHWOOD - Roughly 200 campers spent a week immersed in what it takes to form and run cooperatives during Montana Farmers Union summer camps program at Arrowpeak Lodge. "What excites me is they're learning not just what a cooperative is, but what it takes to make a business plan and get a business started," MFU Education Coordinator Violet Green said. One of Montana Farmers Union three priorities is focusing on cooperatives, and learning about co-ops has...
From U.S. Department of Agriculture WASHINGTON - The Biden Administration announced Monday it has appointed Liberty Commissioner Maureen "Morb" Wicks as the new state executive director for the USDA Montana Farm Service Agency. USDA first announced in June it would appoint Wicks to the position in June. She joined the Montana FSA team July 18. "Individuals selected to serve as FSA state executive directors are incredible public servants who have a proven track record when it c...
Press release GREAT FALLS — The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee is asking producers to participate in the upcoming Wheat and Barley Varieties Survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. “By participating in this year’s varieties survey, you’ll be providing the Montana State University breeding programs with insight as to what is important to Montana producers,” said Jason Laird, marketing and communications director of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee....
