The Montana Stockgrowers Association, a non-profit membership organization, 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.
from the Helena Independent Record:
About 30 Montana farmers and ranchers whose property was destroyed by wildfires will get $2.5 million in federal assistance to help rebuild.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., sent a press release Friday announcing the money, which is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program.
“After our relentless persistence, Montana farmers will begin to see some relief from what has been a historically difficult summer,” Tester said in the release. “This is the first wave of meaningful resources that will help producers rebuild after horrific devastation. I will keep rattling cages in Washington to ensure every farmer gets what they need to rebuild.”
Montana’s congressional delegation, which also includes Republicans U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, all called for federal assitance to help offset the impact of the more than 1 million acres that have burned statewide this year. Two fires, the Lodgepole Complex that burned about 50 miles northwest of Jordan, and the Lolo Peak fire, still burning about 10 miles outside Lolo, have been approved for Federal Emergency Management Agency grants that can match state spending up to 75 percent for approved firefighting costs.
Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, also announced Thursday he was seeking to fast-track additional money from FEMA.
The money Tester announced Friday can be used to assist with livestock grazing deferment, damaged fence and post removal, livestock fencing, water facility development, critical area plantings, and cover crops.
In July, Tester penned a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue asking the USDA to tap into disaster assistance initiatives. He also invited Republican President Donald Trump to tour Montana fires.
Helena, Mont. – The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the expansion of the Montana Hay Lottery. MDA is partnering with Miles Community College to house the donated hay and help with logistics and the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation to help coordinate cash donations to be used for transportation costs. The lottery will be administered by MDA, with drawings taking place in early October. Producers who have already applied for the lottery, but were not chosen in the first drawing, will still be eligible for subsequent drawings.
“The outpouring of support for Montana’s ag community has been nothing short of amazing. We saw a need to help coordinate donations, so we decided to expand the lottery,” said MDA Director Ben Thomas. “We are grateful to MCC and the Stockgrowers for partnering with us to get these resources to those affected by fires and drought.”
Those interested in making donations of hay/feed or transportation should call MDA’s Fire & Drought Assistance Hotline at 1-844-515-1571. Those interested in making a cash donation should call the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation at (406) 442-3420.
Livestock producers interested in applying for the hay lottery must submit an application at http://agr.mt.gov/Hay-Lottery-2017. Eligible producers must be from a D2, D3 or D4 or fire-affected county and own at least 25 animal unit equivalents of state-specific livestock. The latest drought monitor depicting the drought levels of specific counties may be found at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MT.
The application deadline is September 30, 2017.
The hay will be distributed in semi-load lots with the next drawing in early October. If additional donations are taken in after that date, more drawings will occur. Producers that are selected will be responsible for arranging transportation of the hay from the Miles Community College in Miles City.
Questions about filling out the hay lottery application may be directed to MDA’s Fire & Drought Assistance Hotline at 1-844-515-1571.
The Montana Department of Agriculture’s mission is to protect producers and consumers, and to enhance and develop agriculture and allied industries. For more information on the Montana Department of Agriculture, visit agr.mt.gov.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today reiterated his strong support for President Trump’s tax reform agenda, as the president outlined today in North Dakota. Perdue issued the following statement:
“Farming is a complicated operation, so to place more burdens on the people of agriculture through the tax code has never made any sense. Most agricultural enterprises are small businesses, and the costs and time required simply to comply with the tax code are impediments to what these folks really ought to be doing, and that’s growing and producing food to feed the United States and the world.
“It’s an old, not-so-funny joke that farmers live poor and die rich, because of the value of the land they own. It isn’t right that a family’s hard work will be punished by the Death Tax, through which many farms have to be broken up or sold off just to pay the tax bill. I urge Congress to take up the tax reform agenda to give American agriculture the best chance to succeed. That would be in line with our new motto here at USDA – ‘Do right and feed everyone.’”
Hundreds of thousands of acres of forest, rangeland and cropland have sadly gone up in smoke this summer in Montana. In addition to the devastating effect on personal property and direct loss of crops and livestock, fire can affect soil properties and soil nutrients. The impact is highly dependent on the fire intensity/duration and the proportion of plant material that is burned. Timber and shrubs will burn hotter and longer with greater impact on soil than range- or crop land. Fast moving grass fires have minimal impact on soil nutrients and soil health compared to slow moving, intense fires in moderate to heavy fuels.
In general, fires reduce the pool of nutrients stored in organic matter, release a flush of plant available nutrients in the short term, and redistribute nutrients through the soil profile. The availability of nutrients, especially nitrogen, is increased after low intensity fires, yet, a portion of nitrogen and sulfur is lost to the air. Although these losses are not trivial and are similar to removal by harvest and losses to wind erosion, they are small compared to the average pool of nutrients in the top six-inches of soil.
Nitrogen can additionally be lost through nitrate leaching, as the burned plant matter creates a large pool of nitrate and few active plant roots are left to take up either the nitrate or soil water. This can have long term impact on the productivity of forest and rangeland ecosystems, but can be minimized or remediated on croplands. The other nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc and manganese are more stable and not lost directly through combustion, but rather through blowing ash, and post-fire soil erosion.
Cropland fires rarely burn hot enough to affect soil organic matter. The bigger concern is loss of surface plant residue, which is very important to reduce wind erosion, and protect against the physical sealing impact of raindrops. Ash particles also contribute to reduced water infiltration as they plug soil pores. All these factors increase the risk of water runoff and soil erosion.
Intense forest and shrubland fires can burn soil organic matter, reducing the pool of nutrients in the soil, soil aeration and water infiltration/retention, and the soil’s ability to hold nutrients coming from ash or fertilizer.
In addition, forest and shrubland fires can create a water repellent layer within the top 2 inches of soil that comes from compounds in the burnt litter, coating soil aggregates or minerals. The depth and thickness of this layer can vary greatly, and it can affect infiltration for several months to years. This layer should not form on grassland or stubble fires.
Fire kills bacteria and fungi at the soil surface but microbes rapidly recolonize from deeper soil layers, except in severe fires where the soil is sterilized several inches deep. Microbial activity can actually increase with the flush of nutrients available after a fire. However, new input of plant material is important to sustain their populations.
Post-fire management includes soil testing to determine nutrient availability, and establishing ground cover where possible. Test for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to calculate fertilizer needs. Because drought preceded fire, it’s likely that many fields have nitrogen that wasn’t used this summer, so less might be needed next spring. When soil sampling burned fields, be sure to select representative sites, avoid areas where there may have been a windrow, bale, or other high accumulation of straw or residue. Spreading manure can be very beneficial post-fire but this is rarely available or reasonable at large scales.
The MSU Soil Fertility Extension website http://landresources.montana.edu/soilfertility/ has several publications and presentations on soil testing and calculating fertilizer rates. Contact Clain Jones at [email protected] or 406-994- 6076 if you have any questions.
Low Stress Livestock Handling Workshops feat. Curt Pate to be held in Western Montana
This is a field-based workshop that will occur in three locations in western Montana. Curt Pate is a renowned stockman who has been leading stockmanship and safety demonstrations, workshops, and clinics for over a decade. The workshop will focus on livestock handling methods that reduce cattle stress, making for safer and more effective cattle movement. Low stress, efficient stock movement can help improve soil health under improved grazing strategies, while also producing a high quality finished product, a win-win!
More details on this workshop and registration is on the Missoula Conservation District website: http://missoulacd.org/announcements/upcoming-events/
Contact the Missoula Conservation District at [email protected] or 303-3427 with any questions on this event.
(Washington, DC, August 30, 2017) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today expressed his strong support for President Trump’s tax reform agenda as a great benefit to the American agriculture community. Perdue issued the following statement:
“Just as he has done with excessive and costly regulations, President Trump has focused on the problem of onerous and burdensome taxes. Most agricultural operations are, in fact, small businesses, and the time and costs associated with merely complying with the tax code are impeding American prosperity. Farming is a complex enterprise, as even the smallest operations know, so the attention and financial resources that are diverted to handling taxes are an extra barrier to success.
“People should be able to keep more of what they have earned through the sweat of their brows, which will also invigorate the entire United States economy. The Death Tax is one section of the code that is particularly offensive to agriculture, as too many family farms have had to be broken up or sold off to pay the tax bill. The president’s tax reform package will be of great benefit to agriculture and help improve rural prosperity.”
The Montana State University (MSU) Pesticide Education Program is offering the Pest Management Tour for pesticide applicators across southcentral Montana, Private Applicator Training (PAT) District 5, from October 2nd – 6th (Figure 1). Private applicators within PAT district 5 should ensure they have attained 6 private applicator credits prior to the January 1st, 2018 deadline to avoid losing their private certification. Applicators can assess their credit information at https://mtplants.mt.gov/ by selecting “pesticide programs” and “pesticide license search” prior to entering their license number. Applicators can also contact their MSU Extension county office for license information. Private applicators may opt to attend only a morning or afternoon session for 3 private applicator credits; or both for 6 credits. Commercial applicator credits can be viewed on the last page of the 2017 Pest Management Tour agenda at www.pesticides.montana.edu by selecting “Pest Management Tour”.
Speakers will deliver presentations on managing prairie dogs, managing birds, weed management, pulse diseases, pesticide applicator recordkeeping, pesticide drift, herbicide carryover and diagnosing herbicide injury (presentations vary by location). MSU representatives speaking on the tour include Dr. Fabian Menalled (MSU Cropland Weed Specialist), Dr. Jane Mangold (MSU Rangeland Weed Specialist), Dr. Jessica Rupp (MSU Potato, Sugarbeet and Pulse Pathologist), Stephen Vantassel (MDA Vertebrate Pest Specialist), Eric Clanton (MDA District Officer) and Dr. Cecil Tharp (MSU Pesticide Education Specialist). The tour will cover 10 locations in 5 days:
October 2nd
Lewistown, MT: Eagles Club, 124 W Main Street; Pre-register by September 29th with MSU PEP, Amy Bowser at (406)994-5178 or online atwww.pesticides.montana.edu/event.html;
$10 fee & lunch provided; Starts at 8:30 am. th Hobson, MT: Tall Boys Tavern, 122 Central Avenue; Pre-register by September 26 Basin County Extension, Katie Hatlelid at (406)566-2277 ext.104 or email [email protected]; $10 fee & lunch provided; Starts at 8:40 am.
October 3rd
Roundup, MT: Roundup Community Center, 700 3rd Street West; Pre-register by September 27th with Musselshell County Extension, Mat Walter (406)323-2704 or email
[email protected]; $15 fee & lunch provided; Starts at 8:55 am. th Ryegate, MT: Ryegate Firehall, 107 Kemp Street; Pre-register by September 27 Musselshell-Golden Valley County Extension, Mat Walter (406)323-2704 or email [email protected]; $15 fee & lunch provided; Starts at 8:40 am.
October 4th
Billings, MT: Red Lion Inn, 1223 Mullowney Lane; Pre-register by September 29th with MSU PEP, Amy Bowser (406)994-5178 or register online at www.pesticides.montana.edu/event.html; $15 fee & lunch provided; Starts at 8:25 am. th Hardin, MT: Big Horn County Fairgrounds, 118 Sawyer Loop; Pre-register by September 28 with Big Horn County Extension Office, Molly Hammond, (406)665-9770 or email [email protected]; $5 fee & lunch provided; Starts at 8:45 am.
October 5th
Columbus, MT: Stillwater County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 328 North 5th Avenue; Pre-register by September 29th with Stillwater County Extension Office, Lee Schmelzer (406)322-8035 or email
[email protected]; No fee & lunch provided; Starts at 8:45 am. th Joliet, MT: Joliet Community Center, 209 E. Front Avenue; Pre-register by September 29 Carbon County Extension Office, Nikki Bailey (406)962-3522 or email at [email protected]; No fee and lunch provided; Starts at 8:35 am.
October 6th
Big Timber, MT: Sweet Grass County Fairgrounds, 78 Fairgrounds Road; Pre-register by September 29th by contacting Sweet Grass County Extension Office, Marc King (406)580-2556 or email [email protected]; No fee & lunch provided; Starts at 8:35 am.
Harlowton, MT: Kiwanis Youth Center, 202 3rd NE; Pre-register by September 29th by contacting Wheatland County Extension Office, Mandie Reed (406)632-4728 ext. 308 or email [email protected]. $15 fee & lunch provided; Starts at 8:55 am.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: See the detailed program agenda online at www.pesticides.montana.edu and select ‘2017 Pest Management Tour’, or contact your local Extension agent for local information. For any other questions contact Cecil Tharp, Pesticide Education Specialist, at the MSU Pesticide Education Program office (406)-994-5067, [email protected].
Make plans now to attend the annual Women Stepping Forward for Agriculture Conference at the DoubleTree Hotel in Billings, Mont., Sept. 26-28, 2017.
This year’s conference is packed with speakers that will deliver information on today’s most pressing topics: farm safety and disaster preparedness, increasing profitability, women in ag business, self-defense, and media outreach.
Featured speaker Bob Budd, executive director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, will discuss mentorship during his talk, Stolon or Seed: How will you Grow?
Sisters on the Fly, the largest outdoor women’s group in the United States, will tell the story of how they got started and how they have grown. They will have a parking lot party following the presentation.
Closing speaker will be Rebecca Undem, a dynamic speaker and author who will show participants how to get their groove back.
Registration for the conference is $70 prior to Sept. 1 and $90 after that date. Registration information and a full agenda can be found on the Women Stepping Forward for Ag website atwomensteppingforward.org. A special room rate is available at the DoubleTree Hotel until Sept. 5.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a silent auction item from their local area. Auction proceeds are used to support future conferences. Exhibit space is also available.
For more information, contact Tara Becken, conference chairperson, at 406-930-4205 or [email protected] or visit the Women Stepping Forward for Ag website at womensteppingforward.org or follow on Facebook @womensteppingforward.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today outlined the U.S. Forest Service’s assets and responses to a recent outbreak of extreme wildfires over large parts of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. The fires, affecting forests and grasslands, are burning across Western Montana, Idaho, Northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
“Our courageous USFS firefighters do an outstanding job and are able to catch 98 percent of all fires before they become large fires,” Perdue said. “To help them, we will make sure firefighters have all the necessary tools at their disposal in order to save lives, property, and our forests. We will also work hand-in-hand with our federal partners, particularly the Department of Interior, during this aggressive fire season.”
Many different types of equipment and firefighting resources are available to fire managers. As of August 21, 2017, the resources available for wildland fire suppression included:
Wildland firefighting is a partnership among federal agencies, state agencies, and local fire departments, with the U.S. Forest Service taking on an important leadership and coordination role. Federal resources are provided for fires across the country, whether fires are on federal, state, tribal, or private lands. So far this season, firefighting agencies have responded to about 42,809 fires across about 6.4 million acres. The Forest Service, in partnership with state and local agencies, will continue to vigorously respond to wildfires with an array of assets. The National Interagency Fire Center is constantly reviewing fire conditions in order to position available resources to ensure the fastest response possible.
Perdue has announced that long-time Forest Service employee Tony Tooke will become the new Chief of the agency on September 1, 2017. Tooke replaces Tom Tidwell, whose time as Forest Service Chief capped a 40-year career with the agency. The selection of Tooke will ensure that there is continuity of leadership as the Forest Service continues its vital mission.