May 15, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
Share:

Montana Stockgrowers Participate in Spring Legislative Session

Montana Coffee Washington VisitWhile Capitol Hill may be on the opposite side of the country, many laws and regulations passed by policy makers affect our industry on a regular basis. Earlier this month, MSGA leadership and staff continued out commitment to representing our members and the Montana ranching community by making a trip to Washington D.C. for the Spring Legislative Conferences for both the Public Lands Council (PLC) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). During the visit, MSGA leaders had the opportunity to meet with congressional representatives and discuss important issues that are important to Montana’s ranching families.

Our Association was represented by MSGA Executive Vice President, Errol Rice; MSGA Director of Natural Resources, Jay Bodner; current MSGA President, Tucker Hughes of Stanford; current MSGA 1st Vice President, Gene Curry of Valier; Montana CattleWomen’s President, Wanda Pinnow of Baker; and MSGA Past Presidents, Watty Taylor of Busby and Tom Hougen of Melstone.

The MSGA delegation attended the NCBA Issues Briefing on Tuesday afternoon. During the briefing session, NCBA Staff provided detailed information on several issues of great importance to the cattle and beef industries.

  • Changes to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines from the USDA
  • Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement and the push for full and free market access and elimination of tariffs.
  • Important trade issues, regulation changes and negotiations currently active with Japan, China, EU, Brazil
  • EPA proposed rule to expand their jurisdiction over all types of waters.
  • APHIS proposed rule for fresh Brazilian beef importation
  • Updates from the Public Lands Council on the Grazing Improvement Bill and impacts on grazing rights

It was apparent from the Issues Briefing that PLC and NCBA are continually meeting with D.C. policy makers on these important issues, including the volatile trade talks. In order to support their efforts, it is important that state and local organizations stay in contact with congressional delegates to reinforce the importance of these issues to the ranching community.

MSGA leadership joined Montana’s congressional delegation for their regular Montana Coffee event on Wednesday morning. Throughout the day, they had opportunity to meet with Senators Jon Tester, John Walsh and Congressman Steve Daines. During the visits, MSGA thanked the delegation for inclusion of disaster assistance in the Farm Bill, opposition to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) office closures and our shared concerns over the significant impacts the USDA proposal to import Brazilian beef could have on the U.S. cattle industry. MSGA has submitted comments to USDA APHIS asking that the proposed rule be withdrawn.

In addition, MSGA discussed concerns over the significant impacts of a sage grouse listing on MT producers and the EPA proposal to expand their jurisdiction over all types of waters. MSGA also visited with the MT Delegation on the effects of bovine brucellosis on Montana’s livestock, the possibility of using federal funds to research the disease in cattle and ensuring a strong working relationship with APHIS to address this issue. Also discussed, were concerns of ranchers in Southeastern Montana about proposed expansion of the Powder River Training Complex based at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.

Montana Stockgrowers continues work to build relationships and collaborate with state, government and industry leaders and congressional staff to develop innovative solutions to the issues Montana’s ranching community confronts, while preserving Montana’s complex natural landscape, history, economy, ethics and social values. This follows our mission to protect and enhance Montana ranch families’ ability to grow and deliver safe, healthy, environmentally wholesome beef to the world.

Enhanced by Zemanta
United States Department of Agriculture
April 15, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
Share:

Tester to Montana ranchers: Today is first day to sign up for disaster assistance

Senator spreads the word about recently reauthorized livestock disaster initiatives in Farm Bill

(The following is a press release from Sen. Tester’s office) – Senator Jon Tester wants Montana ranchers to know that today is the first day to sign up for support under the recently reauthorized livestock disaster assistance initiatives in the 2014 Farm Bill.

The five-year Farm Bill passed earlier this year with Tester’s support.  It reauthorizes three livestock disaster assistance programs, including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), that expired in 2011.  These programs support ranchers who suffered losses in recent years, including 2012’s nationwide drought.

The newly reauthorized programs are retroactive to October 1, 2011.  Montanans should contact their local FSA offices for more information about applying.

Tester, a dry-land farmer from Big Sandy, successfully got USDA to quickly implement the initiatives so ranchers in Montana and across the country could get the assistance they need.

“Today is the first day for Montana ranchers affected by recent disasters to apply for needed assistance,” Tester said.  “I encourage all ranchers to utilize all available resources so we can keep our state’s number one industry strong.”

Tester pushed the President for quick implementation of these provisions because it took more than a year for LIP and LFP to begin after the last Farm Bill became law in 2008.

The Farm Bill includes numerous other Tester priorities, including extending Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) through 2014, support for beginning farmers and ranchers and savings of $23 billion.

More information about the Livestock Indemnity Program is available HERE, about the Livestock Forage Disaster Program HERE and about the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised First Program HERE.

Enhanced by Zemanta
November 8, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
Share:

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.”