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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation is holding a virtual Calling on the Capitol on Ag Day, March 23. This will provide an excellent opportunity for farmers and ranchers to meet with the Montana Lieutenant Governor, legislative leadership as well as with agency directors. MFBF’s governmental affairs staff will provide tips on testifying and providing insight into being a part of the legislative process. The event will be conducted via Zoom from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Farm Bureau members from across the state are encouraged to attend. Pre...
The Montana Farm Bureau is urging Congressional support for S. 2774, the Agriculture Student EARN Act. The Act, introduced by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), would make the first $5,000 of income earned by students completing 4-H or FFA agricultural projects tax-free. Farm Bureau also supports companion legislation introduced in the House by Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Michael Conaway (R-Texas). That bill is H.R. 3255, the Student Agriculture Protection Act of 2015. “Student a...
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has presented its ninth annual Book of the Year award to Susan Grigsby for “First Peas to the Table.” In this lighthearted story, a little girl, Maya, and her classmates learn about gardens and peas, as well as Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello. Ainsley and Kamdyn McFarland from Billings stood in line for an hour at the Accurate Ag Book booth at the IDEAg Trade show, waiting for Grisby to sign their book. The girls and their parents were there as part of the American Farm Bureau Annua...
The Montana Farm Bureau is urging Congressional support for S. 2774, the Agriculture Student EARN Act. The Act, introduced by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), would make the first $5,000 of income earned by students completing 4-H or FFA agricultural projects tax-free. Farm Bureau also supports companion legislation introduced in the House by Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Michael Conaway (R-Texas). That bill is H.R. 3255, the Student Agriculture Protection Act of 2015. “Student a...
BNSF Railway, Montana’s primary freight carrier, has announced a decrease in its tariff rates for shipments of wheat in the Northern states. BNSF’s Vice-President of Ag Products, John Miller discussed the reduction of wheat rates by $100 per car with a meeting of farm group leaders in Great Falls on Wednesday. Miller indicated that this rate reduction is market-based, and should help move burdensome stocks of wheat to export markets, as well as to domestic customers. Recent reductions in fuel costs, plus lower export volumes, were factors in...
Agriculture Week, March 13-19, is a time to celebrate agriculture in classrooms and communities across the country. The 2016 theme is “Agriculture: Stewards of a Healthy Planet.” Ag statistics show that farmers have used careful stewardship that has spurred a nearly 50 percent decline in erosion of cropland by wind and water since 1982. Farmers and ranchers are still looking for ways to improve their stewardship. The latest buzzword in agriculture is “soil health” which covers planting as well as grazing practices. “Think about soil as a whol...
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has released its findings about how the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will tear down trade barriers and help level the playing field for U.S. agricultural exports to 11 nations across the Pacific Rim. Ratifying TPP will boost annual net farm income in the United States by $4.4 billion, compared to not approving the pact, according to the AFBF. In Montana, the TPP agreement is expected to increase cash receipts and net exports by $86.9 million and $56.6 million per year respectively. It is estimated...
Members of Montana Farm Bureau traveled to Washington, D.C. for the American Farm Bureau Issues Advisory Committee Meetings and Agricultural Advocacy Conference. The meetings, held February 22-25, centered around topics of importance to farmers and ranchers. MFBF members were appointed to serve on five of the 15 committees. Turk Stovall, a rancher from Billings serving on the Animal Care Committee, talked about challenges of the initiative of turning buffalo out onto the rangeland. "I explained...
The Montana Farm Bureau is holding their annual Youth Speech Contest in conjunction with the Montana FFA State Convention, March 30 - April 2, 2016 at Montana State University in Bozeman. The contest is open to seventh, eighth and ninth grade students. Each speech must be two and a half to four minutes in length and demonstrate how science, technology, engineering and math are used by those who work in agriculture in one of the following careers: Crop production, livestock production, veterinary medicine, diesel mechanic, plant scientist and...
The Montana Farm Bureau is applauding the legal opinion released today by the U.S. Government Accountability Office that found the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) broke the law with its social media and grassroots lobbying campaign advocating for its own Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. “It’s rewarding to see a government office has found a government agency to be in violation of the law,” noted Montana Farm Bureau President Bob Hanson who is currently in Washington, D.C. for an American Farm Bureau board meeting. “At least there is stil...
The American Farm Bureau Board of Directors has voted to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, stating that it would be economically beneficial for agriculture. Montana Farm Bureau President Bob Hanson, who sits on the AFBF Board, noted that Montana agriculture would benefit, as well. “There are many positive aspects for beef producers,” said Hanson. “We will increase the amount of beef we export, which will help beef prices rebound. With this agreement, a 39 percent tariff of beef drops to zero. Japan is our largest consu...
The Montana Farm Bureau is proud to learn Montana State University College of Agriculture has been named one of the four best colleges for studying agriculture by the online service, Campus Explorer. According to Campus Explorer, MSU’s College of Agriculture was ranked for its diverse six departments, working farms, specialized research centers and the popularity of agriculture on campus. “Montana Farm Bureau has very close ties with MSU, as our state’s land grant university,” said Montana Farm Bureau President, Bob Hanson. “They have an e...
