The Montana Farm Bureau Should Apologize For Opposing COOL

By Gilles Stockton Grass Range, MT Instead of apologizing to Montana’s beef consumers and cattle ranchers, the Montana Farm Bureau (MFB) in an OpEd, “State Mandated Placarding Is Not COOL”, chose instead to double down on the half-truths and innuendos used to kill Montana Country of Origin Labeling (Mt-COOL).  Senator Al Olszewski of Kalispell introduced SB 206 to reinstate COOL […]

All EHV-1 Quarantines and Restricted Travel Recommendations Lifted

As of May 1, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) has lifted all quarantines for Equine Herpes Virus – Type 1 (EHV-1) in the state.  One positive case related to an aborted horse was confirmed in Humboldt County; no quarantine has been issued for this case because the incubation period has passed, and no horses have been moved to or […]

USDA Extends Deadline for Producers to Certify 2018 Production for MFP Payments

USDA extended the deadline to May 17 from May 1 for agricultural producers to certify 2018 crop production for payments through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which helps producers who have been significantly affected by foreign tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional exports.  USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) extended the deadline because heavy rainfall and snowfall have delayed harvests […]

Department of Livestock Welcomes Director for Veterinary Laboratory

The Montana Department of Livestock announced the hire of Gregory Juda, PhD, for the position of Laboratory Director.  In his new role, Dr. Juda will lead the state’s only full service veterinary diagnostic laboratory (VDL) in its continued effort to improve customer service to veterinarians and animal owners while maintaining high-quality diagnostic results. Dr. Juda is joining the laboratory at […]

MDA Announces Noxious Weed Trust Fund Grant Recipients

The Montana Department of Agriculture and Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council has awarded over $1.79 million for the development and implementation of noxious weed management programs across Montana.  The grants, which were awarded in March, assist counties, conservation districts, local communities, tribes, researchers, and educators in efforts to combat noxious weeds in Montana. Fifty-eight local cooperative projects were funded at […]

Chronic Oversupply, Depressed Prices Plague Dairy Industry

In response to sustained depressed milk prices, chronic oversupply, farm-level consolidation, and a wave of farm closures, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing on the state of the dairy economy. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted written testimony highlighting the considerable financial difficulties American dairy producers have withstood for the past several […]

Protecting Your Horse Against Rabies Is in Your Hands

All core equine diseases pose grave dangers, but rabies presents the most serious threat for exposed horses and humans who encounter them.  Annual vaccination is the only way to protect your horse against rabies — which is 100 percent fatal to horses once clinical signs appear. Only 1 out of 7 horses are vaccinated against rabies, a staggering number that […]

REAL Montana Seeks Applicants for Class IV

REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership) is currently seeking applicants for Class IV.  The deadline to apply is May 31 and the first seminar will be held in September. REAL Montana builds a network of informed and engaged leaders to advance the natural resource industries in Montana.  The 18-month program features eight in-state seminars; a five-day national study tour […]

Support for Permanent Tax Deduction Critical for Agriculture

Farm and ranch owners are urging their Congressional delegations to support S. 1149, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, sponsored by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT). This important legislation will make permanent the Section 199A qualified business income deduction, which is currently set to expire after 2025. “Many farm and ranch families and other self-employed business owners should be interested in […]

Agri-Kid

A blue-eyed beauty on a Montana bluebird day!  One-year-old Kamille Shackelford tagged along with her mom and dad to fix a water tank on their Montana ranch.