December 22, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MSGA’s 126th Annual Convention and Trade Show draws over 600 participants

The 126th Annual Montana Stockgrowers Association Convention and Trade Show, held at the Crowne Plaza hotel and MetraPark in Billings, Dec. 16-18, drew over 600 participants from across the state.

“We had another great convention this year,” said Tom Hougen, MSGA’s out-going president. “With the great cattle market we’ve had, everyone seemed to be in high spirits. We had one of the most robust policy discussions I can remember, developing policy on a wide variety of issues that affect family ranches in Montana. Convention attendees also got to enjoy our top-notch trade show and the Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo.”

Here are some of the highlights:

-Walter “Watty” Taylor, of Kirby was elected President; Tucker Hughes of Stanford was elected 1st Vice President; and Gene Curry of Valier was elected 2nd Vice President.

– Jeff Pattison in the Northeast District, Larry Berg in the South Central District, and Dean Wang in the Southeast District were elected to second terms on the Board of Directors.

-Ray Marxer of Dillon was newly elected to the Board of Directors representing the Western District, filling the seat vacated by term-limited Steve Wilcox of Sheridan. Mark Harrison of Belt was elected from the North Central District to fill the seat vacated by term-limited Fred Finke of Big Sandy.

-Policy to guide MSGA officers and staff through 2011, and the upcoming legislative session, was set in a process that began with committee meetings, progressed to the second reading and finished at the third reading. Notable new policies address freeze branding, the proposed Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration rules, funding for the MT Livestock Loss Reduction Board, Antiquities Act reform, grazing issues, energy access agreements, predator control funding, and irrigated pasture assessments.

-Travis Choat, Director of Tech­nical Consulting for Elanco Animal Health, was the keynote speaker at the Opening General Session. His presentation “Food Economics and Consumer Choice” discussed the use of technology to meet a growing world population’s demand for safe, nutritious and affordable food.

-The Trade Show boasted nearly 90 booths, a lineup of Ford vehicles, free boot shines, complimentary tote bags, beef dinner stations and “watering holes.”

-John Rose ad Tim Feddes’ stock dog clinic headlined a full and diverse group of Pfizer Cattlemen’s Colleges that educated attendees about estate planning, calfhood vaccination programs, the difference between generic and brand name compounds, cow herd efficiency, and fertility.

-Keystone Ranches, Inc. of Ismay, owned and operated by Bill and Joyce Almy, was named winner of the 2011 Montana Environmental Stewardship Award sponsored by MSGA and the Montana Beef Council. Keystone Ranches is the 18th winner in the history of the award. MSGA will submit Keystone Ranches for the regional and national Environmental Stewardship Award in February.

-Tucker Hughes of Stanford was named the association’s “Top Hand” for recruiting the most new members throughout the year. Gene Curry of Valier and Jeff Pattison of Glasgow tied for second.

-Marian Hanson of Ashland was named “Ranching Woman of the Year.”

-Montana State University and University of Montana mascots Champ and Monte provided entertainment during the President’ s Lunch.

-Kyle Shobe, 2010 World Champion Livestock Auctioneer was on hand to auction off many items to raise funds for MSGA’s Advocacy Fund, as well as the Seedstock and Commercial Cattle Directory page auction which raises money to promote Montana cattle and associated services across the country.

-MSGA held many drawings throughout the course of the convention. Shawn Pilster of Alzada won the NutraLix saddle drawing, Melinda Berg of Sand Springs won the Young Stockgrower PBR tickets drawing, and Karla Johnson of East Helena won the Women of the West Fair Coldwater Creek Gift Certificate drawing.

-The biggest drawing, however, was for the 2011 Ford Super Duty truck from the Montana Ford Stores and MSGA. Buck and Dee Ward of Great Falls were the lucky winners. To be eligible for the drawing, people had to be MSGA rancher members and present at the President’s Lunch when the drawing was held.

-MSGA members received discounted tickets to the Chase Hawks Memorial Association Rough Stock Rodeo on Saturday, Dec. 18, where they were able to enjoy rodeo action from some of the top cowboys and rough stock in the country. Proceeds from the event benefited the Chase Hawks Memorial Association Community Crisis Fund which provides short-term assistance to families facing an immediate crisis.

-Convention photos and a highlight video can be seen on MSGA’s Facebook Page.

-Plans are already underway for MSGA’s Mid-Year meeting which will be held in June 2011.

December 22, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Department of Livestock reschedules DSA meeting in Twin Bridges

The Montana Department of Livestock’s public meeting on the Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) administrative rule, originally scheduled for November 23, has been rescheduled for 3 p.m., January 4 at the Twin Bridges Fairgrounds. Public comment on the proposed rule has been extended to January 10, and the Board of Livestock will consider the rule at its meeting on January 17-18 in Helena. For additional information about the meeting or DSA, please refer to the department’s web site at http://liv.mt.gov.

December 22, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MSGA and MCW Annual Convention and Trade Show 2010

Video highlights from this year’s convention, trade show, and Chase Hawks Memorial Rodeo.

December 21, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MSGA Changes Leadership

Introduction of MSGA’s President Watty Taylor:

November 23, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MSGA intern completes honors video project on Montana ranchers

During the summer of 2010, MSGA was fortunate to have Lauren Chase from the University of Iowa as our multimedia communications intern. Lauren spent the summer traveling to ranches across the state and putting together short video profiles of ranchers and informative issues-oriented features. This video is Lauren’s honor’s project for her broadcast journalism and anthropology majors. It highlights family ranches in Montana with interviews and footage of summer ranching life. The ranchers discuss their desire to pass the ranch on to the next generation, and the environmental and economic issues they deal with on a day-to-day basis. Also, a wildlife biologist from the USDA’s NRCS, discusses the importance of ranchers for supporting biodiversity on rangeland in Montana. Congratulations to Lauren for completing this culminating project from a fantastic summer. Thanks to MSGA’s Research, Education, and Endowment Foundation for funding the internship. Below are Parts 1 and 2. (If you can’t see the full width of the vidoes, click on the titles to watch them on our YouTube channel.)

November 22, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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2010 MSGA/MCW Annual Convention will have something for everyone

This year’s Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and Montana CattleWomen (MCW) Annual Convention and Trade Show, Dec. 16-18 in Billings, will have something for everyone. The Convention will offer opportunities for attendees to learn tips to improve their ranch or business, find out about new products available for their animal health and ranch supply needs at the Trade Show, and for members to weigh in on policy discussions. Members who attend Annual Convention will be eligible to win a 2011 Ford Super Duty truck from the Montana Ford Stores and receive discounted tickets to the Chase Hawks Memorial Association Rough Stock Rodeo on Saturday, Dec. 18.

The MSGA/MCW Annual Convention will provide excellent educational opportunities on a number of topics important to Montana’s ranching families. Travis Choat, PhD with Elanco Animal Health will kick off the Opening General Session on Friday, Dec. 17 with a presentation about the use of technology to meet a growing population’s demand for safe nutritious and affordable food across the world. Pfizer Cattlemen’s Colleges on Dec. 17 and 18 will address a diverse number of topics. On Dec. 17, John Rose with Rose Cattle Company and Tim Feddes with Feddes Hereford Ranch will conduct two working stock dog clinics. The clinics will focus on utilizing stock dogs on livestock with low stress to owner, dog and livestock. John and Tim will cover teaching techniques from puppies to finished dogs. Another Cattlemen’s College will feature a discussion panel including Mac White with McFarland and White Ranch; Jay Atwell, CPA with Summers, McNea and Company; and Richard Brekke with Brekke & Hoskins Law Firm. The discussion’s focus will be how the McFarland and White Ranch came into its current operation from 1973. The panel will also discuss financial statements, trusts, changing ownerships, minority stockholders, buying a trust ranch, ap­praisals, renouncing ownerships, and buying out a partner. Daniel Scruggs, DVM, with Pfizer Animal Health will present “How Do We Evalu­ate Antimicrobials in Bovine Respiratory Disease-What Really Matters.” The presen­tation will discuss some of the factors that affect treatment of respiratory disease, the impact antimicrobials have on treatment, resolution of respiratory disease, and how we might measure and predict those success rates. To round out the Cattlemen’s Colleges on Dec. 17, Dale Groteleuschen , DVM, with Pfizer Animal Heath will present “Improvements in Calfhood Vaccination Programs-Decrease Sickness and Increase Performance.”

On Dec. 18, as part of the Pfizer Cattlemen’s Colleges, Nick Campbell with Pfizer Animal Heath will present “The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth-What You Need to Understand about Generic Compounds,” a courtroom presentation on the truth between generic and name brands. Andy Roberts, PhD, with Fort Keogh Live­stock and Range Research Laboratory will present “Can Conservative Feeding Im­prove Cow Herd Efficiency and Longevity?” Roberts is a research animal scientist and physiologist at Fort Keogh and focuses his research on feed and reproductive efficiency. Tom Geary, PhD, with Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory will present “Fertility.” Geary’s presentation will cover factors that affect fertility in beef cattle as measured by successful establishment of pregnancy. Much of the information in this presenta­tion will come from research using artificial insemination, but will be tied to natural ser­vice and include both male and female com­ponents.

A major component of the Annual Convention is the setting of new policy and the review of past policies to guide the association through its day-to-day work. The policy process will begin on Thursday, Dec. 16 with committee meetings at the Crowne Plaza hotel. MSGA committees include Beef Production & Marketing, Land Use & Environment, Membership Development & Services, and Tax, Finance & Ag Policy. On Friday, Dec. 17, committee chairmen will give reports from their committees during the Second Reading of Resolutions at the MetraPark. The final reading, and an up or down vote on resolutions, will occur at the MSGA Business Meeting, Saturday morning, Dec. 18, at the MetraPark. Resolutions that make it through the entire process will become association policy.

This Annual Convention, the association will also see changes to its leadership. Tom Hougen will conclude his term as MSGA President. MSGA 1st Vice President, Watty Taylor of Busby, is in line to take over as President, and MSGA 2nd Vice President, Tucker Hughes of Stanford, is up for 1st Vice President, pending the approval of the membership. MSGA will say farewell to out-going Board of Director members Fred Finke of Big Sandy and Steve Wilcox of Sheridan.

The MSGA Trade Show is already sold out and will feature 89 vendors with everything from animal health products and ranch supplies to clothing and crafts. The Trade Show will be open Friday, Dec. 17 from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to the public.

MSGA and the Montana Ford Stores have teamed up to give a 2011 Ford Super Duty truck to one lucky member who attends convention. The drawing will be held on Saturday during the President’s Lunch. To be eligible for the truck drawing you must attend convention, be a current Rancher, Stocker/Feeder or Young Stockgrower member and fill out the truck entry form. Saturday evening, MSGA members will have the opportunity to attend a special VIP Rodeo Reception and receive discounted tickets to the Chase Hawks Memorial Association’s 16th Annual Rough Stock Rodeo.

To learn more about MSGA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show, please call the MSGA office at (406) 442-3420, or visit www.mtbeef.org.

November 10, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MSGA Statement on Senator Baucus’ Efforts in U.S.-Korea Beef Negotiations

The following is a statement from Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) Executive Vice President, Errol Rice, on Senator Baucus’ efforts in the U.S.-Korea beef negotiations this week:

“MSGA would like to commend Senator Max Baucus for his efforts this week to ensure more access for U.S. and Montana beef into South Korea’s marketplace as a condition to ratifying a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.

MSGA’s mission is to protect and enhance Montana ranch families’ ability to grow and deliver safe, healthy and environmentally wholesome beef to the world. While Montana’s family ranchers are pleased with the recovery in beef exports to Korea that has occurred under the U.S.-Korea beef agreement since the market re-opened in the summer of 2008, we are confident that the high quality and safety of our beef deserves more recognition by many trading partners, including South Korea.

We greatly appreciate Senator Baucus’ efforts on this important and time-sensitive agreement. Finding some resolve to the current restrictions on certain U.S. beef products in Korea is vitally important to Montana’s economy. We urge U.S. and South Korean officials to reach an agreement to not only safeguard current market access for beef but also commit to a process to allow further access of U.S. beef products, consistent with international standards, in the future.”

November 9, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Rangeland Livestock Production: Surviving Difficult Economic Times meeting to be held Nov. 19 in Great Falls

The International Mountain Section (IMS) of the Society for Range Management (SRM) is hosting a day-long meeting focused on Rangeland Livestock Production: Surviving Difficult Economic Times on November 19th, 2010 at the Great Falls Hampton Inn. The International Mountain Section of SRM is one geographic section that encompasses western Montana and Alberta. IMS is hosting this session as part of their Fall Meeting, which rotates back and forth between western Montana and Alberta.

The day-long program will focus on rangeland management strategies that have aided ranchers in surviving the fluctuating economy. The program will include university researchers, Extension personnel, and Montana ranchers. Extension personnel and university researchers will provide insight into the economic benefits of managing pastures in fair to good range condition versus excellent condition, the sociological effects of the economy on rural communities, and how consumer satisfaction and perception is tied to ranching and meat production. Ranchers on the program will highlight their management systems and share with the group the approaches they use that have helped them to stay in business, including grass-fed beef and lamb, grazing rotations, and other sustainable grazing management practices. The program will conclude with a banquet and IMS Section awards that evening.

Please consider attending this event – the IMS would love to have your participation! Registration, the agenda, and local information can be found at: http://ims.rangelands.org/2010%20Fall%20Meeting%20agenda.shtml. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Tracy Mosley, MSU Park County Extension Agriculture Agent at (406) 222-4156.

November 8, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Stockgrowers Association actively pursuing congressional wolf delisting solution

Helena – The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) recently announced its support of several congressional bills seeking to remove the gray wolf from the list of endangered species and return management to the state of Montana.

“The bottom line for us is to get wolves off the endangered species list so ranchers can have more tools to deal with increasing wolf populations and livestock depredations,” said Errol Rice, executive vice president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. “We feel this is the opportune time for Congress to gain momentum on this important issue, now and into the next Congress.”

In late October, MSGA joined thirteen livestock groups in writing a letter of support for H.R. 6028 sponsored by Congressman Edwards D-TX, with 14 co-sponsors including Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg, and S. 3919 sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch R-UT along with four co-sponsors, which seek to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list. Other signatories on the letters of support include the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Public Lands Council, the American Sheep Industry Association as well as the Montana Public Lands Council, the Montana Association of State Grazing Districts and Montana’s neighboring Idaho Cattle Association and Wyoming Stock Growers Association. (To see the letters, go to www.mtbeef.org/content/images/HR6028Support.pdf and www.mtbeef.org/content/images/S3919Support.pdf)

MSGA has also offered support to a bill drafted by Montana Senator Max Baucus, S. 3864 “Restoring State Wildlife Management Act of 2010.” The bill, co-sponsored by Montana Senator Jon Tester, would remove the Rocky Mountain gray wolf from the endangered species list once Montana’s state management plan is approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

MSGA has been active representing ranchers on the wolf issue for nearly 20 years.
· In 1991, MSGA filed as interveners in the case when the Defenders of Wildlife were seeking to force the federal government to introduce wolves into Yellowstone before completion of an Environmental Impact Statement. The complaint was dismissed.
· On February 1, 1996, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), Beartooth Stock Association and Vernon Keller filed a Motion for Temporary Restraining Order against the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Park Service trying to halt the release of the additional wolves into the park.
· Once wolves were re-introduced, MSGA began to actively participate in a series of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks State Wolf Management Plan meetings to provide extensive comments detailing livestock concerns. MSGA also worked with the Wolf Advisory Council on the development of the plan.
· In 2008, MSGA intervened in a federal lawsuit filed by environmental groups to block wolf delisting.
· MSGA participated in the development of Montana’s wolf livestock loss and mitigation program to reimburse livestock producers for livestock losses due to wolves. In 2009, MSGA worked with Montana Senator Jon Tester on his Federal Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project, better known as the Wolf Kill Bill, which allowed the federal government to approve a 50-percent cost share of funds for repayment for depredation and proactive incentives, up to $1 million per year.

“MSGA has been extremely active standing up for Montana’s family ranchers on all fronts of the wolf issue,” Rice said. “We will continue to work hard to ensure that ranchers can protect their livestock. Our best option right now is for Congress to support one of these bills, or a compromise between them, so wolves can be delisted finally and permanently.”

October 29, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MSGA Encourages MT Voters to Vote “No” on I-161

Melville, Mont. rancher, Chuck Rein, explains why Montana Ballot Initiative I-161, which seeks to abolish all outfitter-sponsored hunting licenses, is a bad initiative. On Novemember 2, please vote “No” on I-161. Click here for MSGA’s Statement on I-161 and a history of outfitter-sponsored licences.