Elk Listening Session

Thursday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m.

MSGA will host a listening session with Chuck Rein and Race King, members of FWP’s Elk Management Citizen Advisory Group, for its members. This listening session will provide an opportunity for MSGA members to participate in a discussion with advisory group members and share solutions around elk management issues.

The Elk Management Citizen Advisory Group is composed of 12 citizens, selected by FWP, who represent a broad range of viewpoints and experience. The group is tasked with developing a set of recommendations to address elk management issues and improve relationships among stakeholders.

More info about the advisory group can be found here: https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/elk-management-citizen-advisory-group

When: Thursday, April 21, 2022

Time: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Via Zoom

Meeting information:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87505110153?pwd=cXVXeEZvbUh4TFpuVE04QVJ2WXVpUT09

Meeting ID: 875 0511 0153
Passcode: 869205

Or by phone at:
Phone number: 1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 875 0511 0153
Passcode: 869205

One tap mobile
+12532158782,,87505110153#,,,,*869205#

Analyzing Consumers’ Value of Product of USA Labeling Claims

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to collect information using a web-based survey/experiment to help gauge consumer awareness and understanding of current “Product of USA” labeling claims on meat (beef and pork) products and consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for meat products labeled as “Product of USA” using the current and potentially revised definitions of the claim. FSIS also intends to collect information on consumer understanding of other “USDA” labeling on meat products, such as the “USDA Choice” label and the USDA mark of inspection. This is a new information collection with an estimated annual burden of 1,815.1 hours.

Submit comments on or before April 4, 2022 at https://www.regulations.gov/document/FSIS-2021-0031-0001

PLC Seeks Information on Voluntary Grazing Adjustments

The Public Lands Council has been working with the BLM and Forest Service to ensure they’re directing their staff to use as much flexibility as possible during the upcoming grazing season. The agencies have asked PLC to help them encourage permittees to report actual use, or to help them demonstrate that permittees are already making grazing decisions that match the landscape needs. There are a variety of reasons a permittee may not report actual use, but in order to push the agencies to use more flexibility, we need your help. 

Please complete the two question survey below, and share with your neighbors, state PLC delegates, and friends. Personal identities are not collected as part of the survey unless you want to be contacted as an example of grazing changes.

Take Survey Here

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN MONTANA?

The Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is revising the state’s five-year preservation plan, Preservation Montana, and we need your input on how SHPO and Montana’s preservation community can better promote and facilitate preservation across the state. Our 10-question survey provides you an opportunity to express your opinions and identify emerging preservation issues. SHPO will synthesize survey results and revise the current plan’s Issues, Goals, Objectives, and Strategies for a 2023 rollout.

Take the survey now:
Survey – Montana Preservation Plan Update 2023-2027 (surveymonkey.com)

SHPO appreciates you sharing your most valuable commodities: your time and thoughts!

The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers have published the first of their two-phase rulemaking to repeal the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). Following a recent court decision in Arizona that vacated the NWPR, the agencies have been implementing the 1986 regulation. Phase 1 of the rulemaking removes NWPR from the Code of Federal Regulations, so that the agency is able to implement the 1986 regulation, with revisions, while they work to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” through a second phase.

For question, please reach out to Raylee Honeycutt at [email protected]

Montana’s Livestock Loss Board is looking to revamp the loss prevention grant process and is requesting suggestions from Montana Ranchers to make the process easier for ranchers to apply. Give your ideas today!

In order to facilitate a new process, the board directed two of their members to come up with a new grant application. Elaine Allestad a rancher from Big Timber and Patty Quisno a rancher from Harlem have begun working on new grant requirements. Early thoughts in the process are lowering a cost share requirement for a grant match to make it more affordable. It’s not always a cash match for a cost share. It can be value for your labor such as installing an electric fence to help keep grizzly bears out of smaller pastures as just one example.

“The board’s philosophy has always been that a rancher will know what will work best for their own ranch. We will never tell you what you need to do to reduce predation. This is where you come in. If you have ideas that may help the board, we want to hear from you.” – George Edwards, Livestock Loss Board Executive Director

Ideas can be sent to [email protected]. Please keep in mind that our funding is restricted to non-lethal methods related to grizzly bears and wolves. 

The Livestock Loss board encourages public comment throughout their meetings and your input will help the board come up with better solutions In the future. 

A board meeting to discuss a new grant form will be held sometime during the week of October 11-15^th. Meeting details can be found at www.llb.mt.gov.