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  • Customer kiosks now at FSA offices

    Updated Jul 11, 2024

    Press release USDA announced that new customer kiosks from USDA’s Farm Service Agency are now available at every county office nationwide. “These kiosks help to streamline your visit to your local county office and easily access a variety of features such as signing FSA documents, utilizing the Loan Assistance Tool, browsing USDA programs, accessing the internet, accessing necessary personal information, and signing up for a Login.gov account, which provides access to farmers.gov level two features and other USDA and U.S...

  • Montana FSA News, July 11, 2024

    Updated Jul 11, 2024

    Farm Service Agency news Montana FSA program dates/deadlines USDA in Montana reminds agricultural producers of important Farm Service Agency 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 . July 15, 2024: The Acreage Reporting Date for Spring Alfalfa Seed, all other spring seeded crops, Perennial Forage, Hemp, CRP acres and Grazing acreage is 15 days before the onset of harvest or grazing, or July 15, whichever is earlier. July...

  • USDA rule proposed to clarify unfair practices

    Updated Jul 3, 2024

    Press release WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced June 25 new action to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan for a fairer, more competitive, and more resilient meat and poultry supply chain. USDA’s Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets proposed rule would tackle longstanding challenges around interpretations of unfairness and competitive injury for the livestock, meat, and poultry sectors. This will support farmers and growers, and continues President Biden’s work to lower food co...

  • Research center blends high-tech analysis with diverse on-farm exploration

    Updated Jul 3, 2024

    Reagan Cotton MSU News Service BOZEMAN - Eastern Montana may be typecast for its sparse population and rolling landscape, but its vast expanses make it an optimal region for the state's largest industry. Along the Yellowstone River near the North Dakota border, Montana State University's Eastern Agricultural Research Center serves 13 counties that produce nearly three quarters of Montana's pulse crop acreage, which leads the nation, and almost half its wheat. Serving such a...

  • Assistance to specialty crop growers expanded by USDA

    Updated Jul 3, 2024

    Press release WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops — FSCSC — program to now include medium-sized businesses in addition to small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. The program has also been expanded to include assistance for 2024 and 2025 expenses. Producers can apply for assistance on their calendar year 2024 expenses beginning July 1, 2024,...

  • MSU seeks Outstanding Agricultural Leader award nominations

    Updated Jun 27, 2024

    From the MSU News Service BOZEMAN - Montana State University's College of Agriculture is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Agricultural Leader award, which will be presented during the college's expanded Celebrate Agriculture Week Nov. 4-9 at MSU. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, Aug. 30. The award recognizes individuals, families or businesses that have gone above and beyond for the Montana agricultural industry in public service, advocacy, production or...

  • FSA seeks county committee nominations

    Updated Jun 27, 2024

    Press release WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting nominations for farmers and ranchers to serve on local USDA Farm Service Agency county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2024 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2024. “Serving on a Farm Service Agency county committee is your chance to ensure that other producers who share your interests, your production pra...

  • MSU Extension releases new magazine on Alzheimer's and related dementias

    Updated Jun 27, 2024

    From the MSU News Service BOZEMAN — Montana State University Extension has created a new magazine on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias that is designed especially for Montana farmers and ranchers. Montana has more than 21,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, including agricultural producers, said Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist. “Family caregivers (of agricultural producers) have approached me asking about financial and health care powers of a...

  • MFU seeks centennial farms and ranches to honor

    Updated Jun 27, 2024

    Press release Montana Farmers Union will again celebrate family farmers and ranchers whose land holdings have been in their families and in operation for more than 100 years through its Centennial Farm and Ranch Program during MFU’s Annual Convention this year. Since the mid-1990s, Montana Farmers Union has been honored to recognize its members who have owned the same farm or ranch for 100 years or more. Nearly 200 farms and ranches have since been recognized. When an MFU member reaches this milestone, they are honored d...

  • USDA reminds producers to file crop acreage reports

    Updated Jun 20, 2024

    Press release BOZEMAN — Agricultural producers in Montana should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline after planting is complete. “Many USDA programs require producers to file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline in order to receive program benefits,” said Maureen Wicks, FSA state executive director in Montana. “Once planting is complete, call your local FSA office to make an appointment to report your acreage...

  • USDA and FFAR start Innovation Challenge to catalyze ag solutions

    Updated Jun 20, 2024

    Press release WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research — FFAR — launched June 11 a global challenge to advance scientific research that will produce major breakthroughs for nutrition security while mitigating climate change impacts and advancing equity for underserved communities. The “Nourishing Next Generation Agrifood Breakthroughs” (Innovation Challenge) funding opportunity will fund transdisciplinary teams led by early-career scientists — those who have receiv...

  • Wet spring weather leads to recommendation of nitrogen applications

    Updated Jun 20, 2024

    From the MSU News Service BOZEMAN — With a wetter-than-average May in most of Montana, providing additional mid-season nitrogen to wheat could boost grain protein levels and increase profit, according to a Montana State University Extension specialist. “With the drought conditions last fall and winter, many producers likely fertilized with less nitrogen than normal due to lower than expected yields,” said Clain Jones, MSU Extension soil fertility specialist and professor in the Department of Land Resources and Envir...

  • Extension specialist to study grasshoppers' impact on pulse crops

    Updated Jun 13, 2024

    Reagan Cotton MSU News Service BOZEMAN - Through new funding from the USDA and the Montana Department of Agriculture, a Montana State University scientist will study the impact of grasshoppers, an increasingly common pest in Montana, on pulse crops and forages. Hayes Goosey, assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences in the College of Agriculture and an MSU Extension specialist, received roughly $330,000 through the USDA's Specialty Crop Block Program,...

  • Montana State's central research center works on crop yield and profit

    Updated Jun 13, 2024

    Reagan Cotton MSU News Service BOZEMAN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that in 2023, nearly 5.3 million acres of wheat, 1.2 million acres of barley and more than 1 million acres of pulse crops were planted in Montana. At Montana State University’s Central Agricultural Research Center, scientists are aiming to maximize the yield and profit that come from that acreage, with a focus on central Montana. The research center, located just outside Moccasin, is the second-largest of the seven facilities in MSU’s Depar...

  • Warning to Deere a victory for right-to-repair advocates

    Updated Jun 13, 2024

    Montana Farmers Union The EPA’s recent warning to John Deere that the equipment manufacturing company’s equipment manuals prohibiting the repair of emissions control systems by anyone other than Deere authorized dealers may have violated the law is another victory in Farmers Union’s fight for farmers’ right to repair, Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer said. “The fact that John Deere has acknowledged the EPA requirement also affirms that Farmers Union has been justified in advocating for the farmers ‘right to...

  • Chouteau County producers eligible for disaster relief

    Updated Jun 6, 2024

    Press release USDA has declared eight Montana counties primary disaster areas and 18 contiguous counties including Chouteauare eligible for assistance. This secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization...

  • Signup open for USDA's Grassland Conservation Reserve Program

    Updated Jun 6, 2024

    Press release BOZEMAN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that agricultural producers and private landowners can now sign up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program. The signup runs from Monday, June 3, through June 28, 2024. Grassland CRP, offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency, is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands and provide important conservation benefits for wildlife, soil health and carbon sequestration, all while continuing most gra...

  • Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council positions open

    Updated Jun 6, 2024

    Press release HELENA — The Montana Department of Agriculture is recruiting for open positions on its Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council). The following council terms expire June 30, 2024: • Recreationist / Wildlife Group Representative • Noxious Weed Free Materials Representative • Montana Weed Control Association Representative • Eastern County Weed District Representative • At-Large Member • Herbicide Dealer or Applicator Representative The advisory council is appointed by the Montana Department of Agriculture d...

  • New ag online disaster assistance decision tool available through USDA-FarmRaise partnership

    Updated Jun 6, 2024

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with FarmRaise, May 28 launched a new, online Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program Decision Tool. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency tool is designed to assist agricultural producers who have been impacted by natural disasters access available program support. The ELAP Decision Tool, a component of a broader disaster assistance program educational module, further expands the library of online FSA disaster and farm loan pro...

  • Montana Wheat and Barley Committee Board Set to Meet

    Updated May 30, 2024

    Press release The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) Board will meet Monday, June 24 , 2024, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Pollard Hotel in Red Lodge with the option to join remotely via Zoom. The agenda is tentatively set to review board assignments, financial reports, and address general updates. The public is invited to participate at the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee board meetings. To view an agenda for the meeting and learn more about the committee, people can visit MWBC’s website at https://montanawbc.com . F...

  • Farm Bureau applauds House Ag Committee farm bill markup, passage

    Updated May 30, 2024

    Press release WASHINGTON — American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented Friday, May 24, on the House Agriculture Committee markup and passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act. “AFBF appreciates the leadership of Chairman Thompson and members of the House Agriculture Committee for the markup and bipartisan passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act. The farm bill affects all of America’s families, and we’re encouraged to see the legislation progress in the House,” noted Duvall. T...

  • USDA investing in domestic fertilizer projects

    Updated May 30, 2024

    Press release CASCO, Wis. — U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced May 23 USDA is investing in domestic fertilizer projects to strengthen competition for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. Thw funding advances President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and bottom up. It will create jobs and spur economic growth in rural communities by increasing competition in agricultural markets. Through these projects, President Biden...

  • Montana State College of Agriculture announces annual summer field day series

    Updated May 23, 2024

    From the MSU News Service BOZEMAN — The Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station will once again host a series of field days this summer at six of the university’s research centers around the state, plus two additional events at campus farms in Bozeman. “We look forward to our field days every year because of the opportunities they create to interact and share research results with agricultural producers and friends around Montana,” said Sreekala Bajwa, director of the Mon...

  • Big Sandy Organics among receptions of USDA help for producers transitioning to organic

    Updated May 23, 2024

    Press release WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced May 15 new programs, partnerships, grant awards and an additional $10 million in funding to expand the markets for organic products and help producers transition to organic production, including a multi-million dollar grant to Big Sandy Organics in Montana. These programs will support the development of new and better markets for domestic organic products, provide hands-on training to producers transitioning to organic production and ease the financial bur...

  • Hingham's Sattoriva among recipients of MSF Annual Education Heritage Scholarship

    Updated May 23, 2024

    Press release Each year, the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation awards scholarships to college students who are seeking a career beneficial to ranching. This year, a total of $10,000 was awarded to three deserving students. To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be currently enrolled in college and have completed at least one semester in college, be a member, or have at least one parent/guardian who is a member, of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, demonstrate a...

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