January 8, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Department of Revenue Announces New Online Service for Reporting Livestock

HELENA – Livestock owners can now go online to report the number of livestock they own, the Montana Department of Revenue announced Thursday. Montana law requires all livestock owners to report by March 1 of each year the number of livestock they owned as of February 1. Livestock owners who report online this year will be able to pull up their history for next year’s report, which will make reporting faster, more efficient, and more accurate.

The secure online service is free to use and can be found at ReportYourLivestock.mt.gov. “Even if you own just one horse and have a few chickens, or owned and reported livestock last year but no longer do, you still need to report,” said Cynthia Monteau Moore, administrator for the Department of Revenue’s Property Assessment Division. Livestock per capita fees will be due November 30. The ability to pay these fees online will be available later this year.

Livestock includes all poultry and bees, swine three months of age or older, and all other livestock nine months or age or older including cattle, sheep, goats, horses, mules, asses, llamas, alpacas, bison, ostriches, rheas, emus, and domestic ungulates.

Everyone benefits from programs funded by per capita fees. Livestock producers benefit from programs to monitor animal health, monitor and restrict livestock imports, track animal movements, prevent and investigate livestock theft, and manage predators. The general public benefits from programs that prevent the spread of animal diseases to humans.

Livestock owners are welcome to contact the department’s call center at 1-866-859-2254 or, in Helena, 444-6900 with any livestock reporting questions.

The online livestock reporting service is the result of an alliance between state government and the private sector. It was cooperatively developed and is supported by the Montana Department of Revenue, the Montana Department of Administration’s State Information Technology Services Division, and Montana Interactive, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of eGovernment provider NIC (Nasdaq: EGOV).

Online reporting improves effectiveness in the delivery of public services, which is a key component of Governor Steve Bullock’s Main Street Montana Project.

via Montana Department of Revenue

January 6, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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2015 Montana Legislative Session Podcast – Week 1

The 64th Montana Legislative Session convened this week, on Monday, January 5th, in Helena. MSGA expects this to be yet another busy session, representing the interests of our members on a number of bills that will affect Montana ranchers and land owners. Each week during the session, MSGA Director of Natural Resources, Jay Bodner, and MSGA Manager of Communications will discuss what has taken place during the session and what legislative activity we can expect in the days ahead.

Stay tuned to our website as we will provide regular updates and member-exclusive information on activity during the legislative session. Just go to the Policies & Issues page under the About tab and log-in with your membership information.

Be sure to follow Montana Stockgrowers Association on social media for more information or contact our office in Helena with any questions at 442-3420.

For this week’s podcast, Jay Bodner and Ryan Goodman discuss MSGA’s role working with leadership during the legislative session and how you can track legislative activity through the state’s website.

January 5, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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How to Follow the 2015 Montana Legislative Session

Montana-State SealThe 64th regular session of the Montana legislature convenes in Helena on Monday, January 5, at noon. There are a variety of ways in which the public can monitor and participate in legislative proceedings.

Don’t forget, MSGA members can log-in on the Policies & Issues page of our website to receive updates on Stockgrowers’ activities and learn about bills we’re following throughout the session! Click here to visit the Policies & Issues page.

Watch or Listen

Gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate floor sessions and selected committee hearings will be broadcast on cable television stations throughout the state through TVMT, a statewide government broadcasting service provided by the Montana Legislative Services Division through a contract with Helena Civic Television.

To find out if TVMT programming is available in your area:

  • Visit www.leg.mt.gov/tvmt;
  • Contact your cable or other video service provider (Charter customers can view TVMT on Channel 191 throughout the state); or
  • Call the Legislative Communications Office at (406) 444-3067.

In addition, floor sessions and committee hearings will be video and audio streamed through the legislative branch website at www.leg.mt.gov.

Floor sessions generally begin at 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. most Saturdays, while committee hearings usually begin at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays.

Contact Your Legislator

Montana legislators are eager to hear from constituents about their positions on pending legislation. There are several ways you can contact legislators during session to express your views.

Beginning January 5, you can leave messages for legislators using an online form available at www.leg.mt.gov/message.

You can also call the Legislative Information Desk at (406) 444-4800. An operator will take your message, which will then be delivered to the legislators. When leaving a message, be prepared to provide the operator with:

  • your name and address
  • the name of the legislator(s) or committee for whom your message is intended
  • the number of the bill you wish to support or oppose
  • a brief explanation for your position on the bill

You may leave messages for as many as five legislators or one legislative committee at a time. The service is available while the Legislature is in session Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to adjournment.

The Legislative Information Desk does not accept anonymous messages or blanket messages to all legislators.

Additionally, you can write to legislators. Letters should be addressed as follows:

Senator (Name)
Montana Senate
PO Box 200500
Helena MT 59620-0500

or

Representative (Name)
Montana House of Representatives
PO Box 200400
Helena MT 59620-0400

If you aren’t sure who your legislators are, contact your local elections office or visit the legislative website at www.leg.mt.gov and click on the “Legislators” link and then on “Find a Legislator”. The “Find a Legislator” page includes additional details about contacting legislators

Track Bills and Find General Legislative Information

The legislative process relies on the participation of informed citizens. The Legislative Automated Workflow System, or LAWS, is a free online service that provides legislative information before, during, and after sessions. With it, you can find:

  • Complete text of legislative bills
  • Up-to-date status of bills
  • Committee hearing schedules
  • Agendas for committee hearings and floor sessions
  • House and Senate votes on bills

You can find a link to the LAWS website for the 2015 session on the legislative website at www.leg.mt.gov. There is a new link this session on the LAWS website’s main page to an instructional video library. The library contains a number of easy-to-follow videos that explain how to use the system.

The legislative website also contains an array of other information regarding the legislature and the legislative process. Additionally, you can also follow legislative activities through Facebook or Twitter. For details, visit the legislative website at www.leg.mt.gov.

Testify at Hearings

One of the most important opportunities to become involved in the debate over a bill is when it’s the subject of a hearing before a legislative committee. You can communicate personally with legislators at any time about any bill, but the committee hearing is the occasion when anyone may publicly approve, oppose, or suggest changes to a bill.

You can testify on any bill that concerns you. Each committee of the House and Senate is assigned to a specific meeting room in the Capitol. By rule, the time and place of committee hearings are scheduled at least three days in advance. Hearing schedules can be found as noted above through LAWS, or you can call the Legislative Information Desk at (406) 444-4800.

Occasionally, if a hearing is expected to attract a large crowd, it may be moved to a larger room. Such changes are noted on hearing schedules and notices are placed outside the regular meeting rooms. Changes are also posted on the legislative branch website as well as on the legislative Facebook page and Twitter account.

–Press Release: Montana Legislative Communications

December 2, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Christmas Gifts From Montana Ranching Families

If you have not already started your Christmas shopping this year, it might be a good idea to take a look at that list. We’re only a few weeks from the Holiday and there’s no better time to begin. Montana Stockgrowers has a few gifts that will help you share the spirit of Montana’s ranching traditions with friends and families across the country.

The Weak Ones Turned Back – The Cowards Never Started ($50.00; MSGA Store)

MSGA to reprint book “The Weak Ones Turned Back, The Cowards Never Started: A Century of Ranching in Montana”

The Weak Ones Turned Back, The Cowards Never Started: A Century of Ranching in Montana celebrates the long tradition of ranching in Montana, highlighting the stories of 142 ranch families that have been living and working on the same land for over 100 years. Commissioned by the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) to commemorate its 125th Anniversary in 2009, the book honors the perseverance, courage and forward thinking of those who were able to pass their family ranch down the generations and help shape Montana as it is today. The Wills family in Potomac, Montana is one of the families featured in this book.

Big Sky Boots – Working Seasons of a Montana Cowboy ($45.00; MSGA Store)

Big Sky Boots

The first book of the Montana Family Ranching Series: a photographic story-telling project of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. In “Big Sky Boots” readers can journey through the ranching year and learn about the great people that take care of the land, livestock and their families. This first book focuses on the cowboys themselves; the men and the seasons. Throughout the book are interactive QR codes that allow readers to watch videos of the ranching families featured in each section. Proceeds from the book benefit our Research and Education Endowment Foundation.

Ladies and Livestock – Life on the Ranch ($14.99; iTunes Store)

Ladies and Livestock cover

This digital book is an exploration of the roles of Montana women on the ranch and features over 130 pages of stories, photographs and video features of the ladies who raise livestock, care for the land, and build their family’s legacy on Montana ranches. Not only are these Montana women working on the ranch, many have jobs in town, volunteer in their communities, and are involved in the legislation process of issues affecting agriculture. “This book is meant to be an educational tool for anyone who wants to learn more about where their beef comes from, and understand the lives of the people who raise the cattle. Ladies and Livestock is a journey through the life of a woman on a Montana ranch. Not only can a reader see photographs, but can hear the woman tell her own story and see the emotion on her face as she talks about how important her family is to her. Proceeds from the book benefit our Research and Education Endowment Foundation.

Montana Ranching Scene Cards ($15.00/10 cards; MSGA Store)

winter ranching note cards

Looking for a gift for someone who enjoys sending a note of thanks throughout the year? These blank cards come in a set of 10 cards, 2 of each design and come with envelopes. The cards feature scenes throughout the seasons on local Montana family ranches and are the perfect gift for that person who loves to drop a handwritten note of appreciation. Proceeds from the cards benefit our Research and Education Endowment Foundation.

Montana Stockgrowers Ranch Signs ($25.00; MSGA Store)

Montana Ranch Sign

Finally, looking for a gift to display around your place? Why not display a brand that has been around since 1884! Show your support for the Montana Stockgrowers Association on the front gate or on the barn door with this sturdy ranch sign that is sure to stand the test of time. 18″ x 24″; .032# Aluminum ranch sign displaying the Montana Stockgrowers Association logo and slogan – Keeping Tradition Alive… Ranching for the Future!

November 14, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Fall Update for Northeast Montana Ranching

jim steinbeisser, sidney montanaWhat a year we are having in the cattle business with prices never seen before!  Many of us have wondered just how much our consumers will be willing to pay for beef.  Well, apparently a healthy amount!  With this increase in prices comes an increase in pressure to produce a better, more consistent product.  We in Montana and the Northern Plains in general, lead the industry in producing high quality beef but there is always room for improvement.  Now is not the time to rest on our laurels but a time to invest in better genetics and improve our management practices overall.

We have some challenges before us especially in the area of government encroachment of our private property rights.  Case in point is the EPA’s attempt to expand the types of water and land that would be subject to federal permit requirements as well as expanding the regulations on farming and ranching practices on our own land! The comment period has been extended to Nov. 14th (today).  Go to www2.epa.gov/uswaters to register your comments to this rule.  Feel free to contact me or the MSGA office if you have any questions.

Another challenge to our private property rights is the sage grouse issue and the potential of it being listed as an endangered species.  It has been said that the sage grouse could have a major impact on ranching in the western U.S.  We have anti-grazing folks using this issue to get cattle off of federal lands.  Don’t be fooled.  This could have serious impacts on private lands as well.  MSGA has been engaged with this issue from the beginning and will continue to be.

This fall is sure looking good in eastern Montana.  We’ve had some late summer and early fall rains and now some early snow.  Our weaning weights should be good.

I wish you all a great fall and I look forward to visiting with you at our affiliate meetings and convention in December.

–Jim Steinbeisser, Sidney, MSGA Northeast District Director

November 13, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Seeking Applications and Nominations for Young Ag Couples Conference

young montana ranchersWe are looking for Young Stockgrowers interested in attending the 35th Annual Young Ag Couples Conference in Helena, January 21-24, 2015 at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel. Hosted by the Montana Department of Agriculture, the conference will explore contemporary issues facing family operated agri-business as well as development of leadership skills needed to survive in the cyclical economic climate of agriculture.

Montana Stockgrowers is able to nominate young ag couples to attend the conference each year. Couples selected to participate in the conference will have lodging and meal costs paid while in attendance. There will be a conference registration fee of $25 per couple.

To be eligible, couples should demonstrate leadership abilities and earn their primary living from farming, ranching, agribusiness, or other agricultural enterprises. Our age preference is 25-45 years of age. Due to funding restrictions, couples may only attend the conference once. If you have attended in the past, please let us know about your experience and nominate another young ag couple to attend.

To apply for the MSGA nomination, please submit a brief explanation of the following for you or a young ag couple you wish to nominate:

  • Description of the couple’s ag business/operation
  • Experience and educational background, community involvement, interest, hobbies, etc.
  • The couple’s vision for being leaders in the Montana agriculture community

Nominations and/or applications are due to the Montana Stockgrowers Association office no later than November 21, 2014, via mail to 420 N. California, Helena, MT  59601. Submissions may also be emailed to [email protected]. For more information, contact the MSGA office at (406) 442-3420.

November 7, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Communication Key For Association Policies

Bryan MussardMSGA has taken the lead on several issues this year and has done a lot of promotion for the beef industry in Montana. Our directors are well informed on current issues at hand. Please feel free to contact any of them in your area, if you have any concerns or if there is something going on in your area that needs to be brought to their attention.

With that said, communication is the key to the livestock industry’s success in the future. We started AMP (Affiliate Mentorship Program) this year to communicate more often and to stay better informed as Montana’s premier beef cattle association.

If you have resolutions you are considering presenting at the annual convention, it is imperative that you share it now with as many folks as possible. This will do several things. First, you will find out if MSGA already has policy on the issue you are concerned with. Second, it can be considered among fellow members to test the merit of it and possibly change some of the wording, if needed. The last and best thing this accomplishes is that by the time it is presented at convention, more people are aware of it and understand the issue. The resolution then has a better chance of becoming MSGA policy and the board can take action on it.

This is the type of communication that makes a better organization. When we communicate effectively, fewer assumptions are made, better outcomes are achieved and we become a stronger voice to promote our product and preserve our heritage.

One issue to think about is the possibility of the USDA stepping into the Beef Check-off as business partners. This is a result of the lack of congruency among the industry organizations. Secretary Vilsack feels compelled to write his own check off program to run alongside of our current one. It is a classic example of how governments will control people who can’t seem to get along and find their own solutions. It is time to set aside our minor differences about the check off and stand together as an industry or we are going to be paying a much higher rate in the future with less results than we had prior to the check off’s beginning in 1985.

I am adamantly opposed to the USDA having more control over our check off program and I am adamantly committed to meeting with key industry leaders to help stifle this move. MSGA’s leadership is already at work on this issue. Please take time to discuss this issue at your local affiliate meeting and we will have a good discussion about it at convention. We need to know where our membership stands on this issue, now.

Remember, the world is run by those who show up, but it is ultimately shaped by those who speak up.

Enjoy the rest of this historical fall in the Beef business and have a Gorgeous day!

–Bryan Mussard, Dillon, MSGA 2nd Vice President

November 6, 2014 1 Comment Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Public Meetings on Brucellosis Vaccination Set for Billings, Three Forks

Montana Department of Livestock DOLThe Montana Department of Livestock will hold public meetings in Billings and Three Forks on a proposed rule that would remove brucellosis vaccination requirements for cattle imported into Montana from states, provinces and territories that have been brucellosis-free for at least 10 years.

The proposal, said state veterinarian Dr. Marty Zaluski, is based on negligible risk of importing the disease from brucellosis-free areas.

“While this would be a change from the way we’ve done things in the past, the simple fact is that 46 states have been brucellosis-free for at least 10 years or more, and there is negligible risk of importing the disease from those states,” Zaluski said.

Zaluski said the proposal will benefit producers, who imported 151,690 head of cattle into Montana in 2013, by reducing regulation and vaccination costs, and eliminating the need for upon-arrival quarantines.

“The proposed rule will not impact our efforts on brucellosis surveillance and science-based prevention in areas of known risk in southwestern Montana,” Zaluski said.

Vaccination requirements for the four counties (Beaverhead, Gallatin, Madison and Park) within the state’s Designated Surveillance Area, where all female cattle and bison over four months of age must be vaccinated, would remain unchanged.

The meetings are scheduled for 1 p.m. on November 13 at Public Auction Yards (PAYS) in Billings, and for 10 a.m. on November 14 at Headwaters Livestock Auction in Three Forks.

Public comment on the proposed rule, which closes at 5 p.m. on November 19, may be submitted at the meetings, or via email at [email protected], U.S. postal mail at Montana Department of Livestock, P.O. Box 202001, Helena, MT 59610-2001, or fax at 406/444-1929.

The proposed rule can be viewed here.

November 1, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Farm and Ranch Facts | 10 Things To Know

Click this image to view all posts in the 30-day blogging series, 10 Things to Know About Cattle

Click this image to view all posts in the 30-day blogging series, 10 Things to Know About Cattle

We spend our entire lives working on ranches, going to meetings with other ranchers, and talking about the markets… with other ranchers. Sometimes it is easy to forget that many of the things we take for granted and the knowledge we see as second-nature may not always be known by someone who hasn’t been in the business very long. The ranching community is finally recognizing the fact that many customers buying our beef may not always realize these things either. That is part of our responsibility in advocacy – sharing the knowledge and information we have with those who are asking questions and seeking out answers.

During the month of November, we’ll be sharing “10 Things to Know About Cattle” as a part of Holly Spangler’s blogging challenge. Each day will be a different topic that will hopefully share some insightful information about things we encounter in the Montana ranching business. Some of it may be old hat for those of you who have been in the business a while. Hopefully, we will be sharing information for readers who are looking to learn more.

This won’t be an easy task, but we are always up for a good challenge! Have any suggestions for topics to cover? Leave your questions in the comments section below or email [email protected].

Granville Stuart Montana StockgrowersIt only seems right to kick off the series with an introduction to the Montana cattle business. Here are 10 things you may or may not have known about the history of Montana farming and ranching and where we’re at today.

  1. The Montana Stockgrowers Association has been representing the interests of Montana’s ranchers since 1884. A launching effort to organize the group was by Granville Stuart leading up to the “Cowboy Legislature” of 1885 which established many laws focused on protecting cattle from predators, diseases and rustlers that were taking a toll on the early ranchers.
  2. Cattle ranching in Montana has its roots beginning in the 1850s. One of the earliest ranches was started by Conrad Kohrs. This ranch is now the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site owned by the National Park Service.
  3. Montana is home to 28,100 farm and ranch operations that cover 59,700,000 acres of land (63%  of state land area). The average size of these Montana farms and ranches is 2,125 acres.
  4. There are 93,155,800 acres of land in Montana. 32,473,220 acres, 34.86%, are public lands managed by state and federal agencies. Montana ranchers utilize much of this land through grazing leases to feed cattle during the summer months, which helps to manage wildlife habitat.
  5. Montana ranks number 10 in the country for number of cattle and calves; number 7 for the number of sheep and lambs (236.646).
  6. Cattle outnumber people in the state of Montana, 2.5:1. There are 2,550,000 head of cattle in Montana, as of January 1, 2014, and only 1,015,000 people (2013).
  7. Most cattle on Montana are on cow/calf operations. There are only 45,000 cattle on feed and 14,000 dairy cows in the state.
  8. The average Montana farmer and rancher is 58.9 years of age. 84% of primary operators are men. 45% of operators have another primary source of income, outside of farming and ranching.
  9. Agriculture is Montana’s number 1 industry, cattle being the largest commodity with $1,783,908,000 in sales. The 2012 market value of all Montana agricultural products sold was $4,230,083,000, ranking 29th in the U.S.
  10. Each year, farms and ranches contribute $3,516,180,000 to the Montana economy in purchasing power. The average annual net farm income is $41,855.

Have questions or suggested topics for this 30 day series? Leave them in the comments section below or email [email protected].

Here is a list of all the bloggers participating in the challenge. Be sure to click on over and show your support for their blogging efforts too!
October 27, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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It’s Just Ranching – By Scott Wiley

Montana Rancher Feature Q&A: Scott Wiley of MusselshellI have had one of the most wonderful of my many days,
It was one of the best, in oh so many ways.
Went out to do some fencing, a job that I abhor
Just got to do what you have to do, it tests you to the core.

The elk can do some damage, I forgive them for that,
The things that they make me do, that is where it’s at.
I get to see them, wild and free in and on the run,
Reminds me of me, free and easy is how life should be done.

My lunch time was spent, sitting with my wife on a big ole rock,
We eat our lunch when we want to, we don’t have to punch any time clock.
I could of sat there all day, listening to the sounds and things that I hear,
Spending time with the things I love, things that I hold dear.

Can see so much of God’s land that I am blessed to take care of
Can see so much of this great land, I have so learned to love.
Can hear the peepers and toads, singing their mating song,
Almost makes me to want to join in, and make me sing along.

There are some crocuses, some buttercups, and an occasional shooting star
You could smell spring was in the air, no matter where you are.
Almost makes a job that no one wants, to be a big part of
End up being a thing that reminds you, of the real job that you love.

The life that we live asks us to give, and then give a little more of us,
I have that tidbit to say, that we should not make up any fuss.
We have what most people would want, if they could be a part of our way of life
They have no reality of our daily strains, nor do they know of our daily strife.

Living the life that I love, forty miles from the nearest town or store
Makes me appreciate the solitude, even love it even more.
People who do not live this life will probably never understand
The things that we do, those of us who take care of God’s land.
Spending the hours and the sacrifice, the things that we go through

The only reward we get, is feeding the rest of you.
Saving that baby calf, when the temperatures are sub zero cold
Putting up with the droughts and floods, can get really old.
But we all do it, for the satisfaction that it can bring
That is why the days like this one, can make you want to sing.

I get to do with my life the thing that I love the most
And God and Mother Earth, they are my gracious host.

–Scott Wiley, Rancher from Musselshell, Montana

Read more about Scott in his previous Montana Rancher Q&A