Montana Stockgrowers Association

Serving Montana's cattle ranching families since 1884!

Welcome from the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA)! MSGA is a non-profit membership organization that has worked on behalf of Montana’s cattle ranching families since 1884. Our mission is to protect and enhance Montana ranch families’ ability to grow and deliver safe, healthy, environmentally wholesome beef to the world. We work to achieve our mission by representing our members and the policy they set at the state and national legislature, with governmental agencies, in the media, and by promoting the work of Montana's family ranchers to the general public.

We hope you will consider joining our association, or supporting our education and advocacy efforts to keep Montana’s family ranchers in business, on the land, and in our communities. We also look forward to connecting with you on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and our blog!

Sincerely,

Watty Taylor
MSGA President

Register for Mid-Year in Great Falls, June 8-9!

MSGA's 2012 Mid-Year Meeting will be held at the Best Western Heritage Inn in Great Falls, June 8-9! Click here to learn more about the events of the meeting, see the schedule and download the registration form.

New Direction for MT BQA

The new direction of Montana’s Beef Quality Assurance program is rapidly taking shape. Comprehensive online education and certification modules are available to all Montana producers, allied industry partners, and other stakeholders via Kansas State’s Animal Care Training web site. The Animal Care Training program (www.animalcaretraining.org) was developed to educate beef and dairy producers, animal transporters, livestock auction market employees and bovine veterinarians. Web-based audiovisual training modules feature topics such as animal husbandry, animal welfare, environmental stewardship and food safety practices.

The site is currently home to over 100 online training modules and 200 continuing education modules for veterinarians. The program is the result of collaborations with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) and Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) with the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University.

Online Training Features

-Employees and/or individuals can work through the training modules at any time.

-Each module includes a quiz and the quiz must be passed with an 80% or above.

-There is no time limit or deadline to complete the modules and quizzes.

-Each package is different in length and the time to complete each module varies. The modules range from 5-20 minutes long.

-When a training package is complete, a certificate of completion is available for printing.

In addition, a BQA training program for youth high school age and younger is available at no charge and can be accessed at www.animalcaretraining.org/youth. A user name and password is all that’s required to gain access to the training modules.

For more information, contact Montana BQA Coordinator Bill Pelton at (406) 671-5100 or bill@billpelton.com, or call the MSGA office at 442-3420.

Announcements

List or advertise your ranch or business in MSGA's Seedstock and Commercial Cattle Directory

The Ad & Listing Form for the 2012 Montana Seedstock & Commercial Cattle Directory is now available. If you are interested in listing or advertising your ranch or business in this annual publication from MSGA, please download, fill out, and mail in the form. Listings are free for MSGA members and several different advertisement options are available at competitive prices. Forms are due to the MSGA office by June 1, 2012.

Nominate a ranch for the Montana Environmental Stewardship Award!

MSGA is seeking nominations of Montana ranches for the Montana Environmental Stewardship Award. Each year, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) honors a Montana ranch that exemplifies environmental stewardship and demonstrates a commitment toward improved sustainability within the beef industry. This award recognizes Montana ranchers who are at the forefront in conservation and stewardship and are willing to serve as examples for other ranchers. Click here to see the nomination form and rules for the award. Or click here to learn more about this award. Nominations are due May 28.

Mark your calendar for Annual Convention!

Be sure to mark your calendar for MSGA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show to be held in Billings, Dec. 13-15 at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana. Call the MSGA office at (406) 442-3420 for more information or to discuss sponsorship opportunities!

Advertise with us!

The 2012 MSGA Advertiser's Rate Card is now available. Click here to learn how you can reach our members with advertisements for your products or services!

Assistance available for compliance with EPA's Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Rule

The mySPCC Suite of Guidance Materials is an exciting new suite of web-based tools--the second generation of guidance developed exclusively to assist agricultural retailers with implementing their Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan. mySPCC was named for its unique ability to personalize the SPCC Plan to a specific facility and provide a great starting point in the facility's SPCC compliance effort.

Montana Seedstock & Commercial Cattle Directory now available!

The 2011 Montana Seedstock & Commercial Cattle Directory is now available in print as well as online. Click here to view the Directory online. If you would like to have a hard copy mailed to you, please email ariel@mtbeef.org.

Own a piece of Montana history!

MSGA still has copies of "The Weak Ones Turned Back, The Cowards Never Started: A Century of Ranching in Montana" available. The book features 142 Montana ranches that were 100 years or older in 2009. Copies are $50 each, including shipping and handling. Click below to download the order form which you can call, fax, or mail in.

Book Order Form