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This year a brand-new beef processing facility opened up in Sidney called Eastern Montana Meats, LLC. This facility is located at 12314 Co. Rd 351 in Sidney and is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. Steve Lunderby and his two sons, Jake and Dillon, own and operate Eastern Montana Meats. They are all involved with the process from start to finish. The cattle that are brought in for processing are born and raised on local ranches and brought to Lunderby Livestock for finishing in the feedlot on...
Great Falls - Montana Farmers Union appreciates the efforts of two state law makers whose work to amend HB 2, a budget bill, that will allow the state to explore more opportunities for meat processing as well as level the playing field for custom butchers. The two bills sponsored, by Rep. Brandon Ler and Sen. Ken Bogner, proposed significant changes to state and custom exempt meat inspection for sale of meats. The USDA threatened to refuse funding for meat inspection if these bills passed in their original form. Montana Farmers Union President...
On April 13 the Richland County Commissioners sent a letter to Montana Governor Greg Gianforte requesting a Drought Natural Disaster Declaration. The letter can be viewed in its entirety on The Roundup website, roundupweb.com. The letter read as follows. Dear Governor Gianforte: The Board of County Commissioners of Richland County; Montana petitions that you: 1. Submit a request to the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture and the President of the United States for an agriculture-related disaster declaration for Richland County; Montana based on droug...
Washington, DC - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions. The new initiative - USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers - will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new programs. The Department will also develop rules for new programs that will put a greater emphasis on outreach to small and...
The Easter lily is a symbol of beauty, hope and life. For those reasons and many more, Easter lilies are a popular potted flower this time of year. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Floriculture Crop Summary, more than 5 million Easter lilies were sold (wholesale and retail) in 2019. The Easter lily is native to the southern islands of Japan. Western explorers helped spread the bulbs across the globe. Japan was the top exporter of Easter lilies to the U.S. until World War II....
What can producers expect as the economy recovers from COVID-19 and discussion begins on innovative agricultural policies leading up to a new farm bill? What about existing risk management tools? What support can producers expect in the next few years? Montana State University Ag Economist Dr. Vincent Smith, an internationally recognized expert on agricultural and international trade policy, shares his considerable insight into these questions in the final webinar of the 2021 MonDak Ag Research...
Conversations at the Capitol have taken a turn this week to focus on strategy for spending federal funding brought to Montana from The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act is the Biden Administration’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. The nearly $3 billion in funding is roughly equal to our state’s typical annual budget, so the legislators have a big job to do in strategically and thoughtfully distributing the money. They’re handling this money – marked as House Bill 632: Implement receipt of and appropr...
Bozeman - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking proposals to fund up to $75 million in new, unique projects under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA) that take innovative and non-traditional approaches to conservation solutions at the local, regional and landscape scales. In making selections USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will prioritize projects related to climate smart agriculture and forestry. NRCS will fund up to 15 projects this year thr...
Farmers and ranchers in the MonDak region are readying their equipment for spring planting. The big question now is the weather. What can farmers and ranchers expect this growing season? Patrick Gilchrist with the National Weather Service Office, Glasgow will help answer that question in the fifth webinar of the 2021 MonDak Ag Research Summit Series to be held on Thursday, March 11 at 10 a.m. MT, 11 a.m. CT. In his keynote presentation – Seasonal outlooks and potential climate change impacts for eastern Montana and western North Dakota – Gilchr...
MonDak Ag Days is an annual event sponsored by Sidney Chamber Ag Committee. It provides educational opportunities for MonDak area farmers and ranchers and showcases the latest in agriculture related equipment and technology. This event is traditionally held in person, but due to circumstances related to COVID-19, it will be offered in a hybrid virtual/in person format. To attend virtually, attendees can use this link: https://montana.webex.com/montana/j.php?MTID=mde8774804e41...
Billings - USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming that the final date to purchase or make changes to crop insurance on spring-planted crops in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming is March 15 for the 2021 crop year. Farmers also need to notify their agent if they have planted winter wheat in a county with only spring wheat coverage by this date. Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and s...
Montana legislators have heard more than 400 bills this week, which shows the staggering pace that comes on the eve of transmittal deadline. We’ll cut straight to the chase here in week eight of the Montana Legislative Session, with a focus on meat processing bills and private property rights. House Bill 336: Interstate cooperative meatpacking compact, sponsored by Rep. Brandon Ler (R), HD 35. Montana Farm Bureau member policy opposes. The Interstate Compacting Bill sets up a framework to allow Montana to enter into agreement with other states...
On Friday, March 5, at 1:30 p.m. MST, Dr. Dave Branson will be speaking at MonDak Ag Days on grasshopper problems in 2020 and a grasshopper outlook for 2021. For over 20 years, Branson has been a research entomologist at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Sidney. Here he is a part of Pest Management Unit; he studies the biology and ecology of grasshoppers to find ways to manage outbreaks without chemical pesticides. Scientists that are a part of this unit are also researching the benefits grasshoppers can provide. Prior to working at...
Thursday, March 4, at 12:30 p.m. MST, Dr. Tatyana Rand will be discussing alfalfa weevil and wheat stem sawfly identification, research and management. Dr. Rand is a research ecologist, in Pest Management Research Unit, at USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab, Sidney. She received a PhD in biology from Brown University, Providence, RI, and joined ARS in 2009, following postdoctoral positions at University of Goettingen, Germany, and the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. She said, “My postdoctoral work focused on understanding...
The Montana Department of Agriculture would like to make you aware of a funding opportunity available through the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant program. Applications are due March 22, 2021. USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant is available to independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. The program is designed to help producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. Total P...
Farmers and ranchers in the MonDak region are readying their equipment for spring planting. The big question now is the weather. What can farmers and ranchers expect this growing season? Patrick Gilchrist with the National Weather Service Office, Glasgow will help answer that question in the fifth webinar of the 2021 MonDak Ag Research Summit Series to be held on Thursday, March 11 beginning at 10 a.m. MT, 11 a.m. CST. In his keynote presentation – entitled Seasonal outlooks and potential climat...
As farmers prepare for spring planting, the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee is reminding producers to ensure that wheat shipments destined for export are buckwheat-free. In light of the ongoing global pandemic, food safety has become one of the most important factors for purchasers of ingredients. Montana exports 60-80% of its wheat to countries located in the Pacific Rim. Since Asian countries are large importers of Montana wheat, it is important that producers and handlers understand the serious health risk and potential economic impact po...
New bills are arriving rapidly in the 2021 Montana State Legislative Session, and we're here to bring you the highlights. We're in the final push before transmittal deadline, which is the date when all non-revenue bills have to make their way into the second chamber. We'll focus on two big issues in this column: meat labeling and bison bills. House Bill 324: Generally revise certain labeling laws, sponsored by Rep. Frank Smith (D), HD 31 and Senate Bill 210: Revise laws related to country of ori...
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by the recent winter storms that USDA has programs that provide assistance. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to residents, agricultural producers and impacted communities. “USDA is committed to getting help to producers and rural Americans impacted by the severe weather in many parts of the country. As severe we...
As farmers prepare for spring planting, the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee is reminding producers to ensure that wheat shipments destined for export are buckwheat-free. In light of the ongoing global pandemic, food safety has become one of the most important factors for purchasers of ingredients. Montana exports 60-80% of its wheat to countries located in the Pacific Rim. Since Asian countries are large importers of Montana wheat, it is important that producers and handlers understand the serious health risk and potential economic impact po...
Whether herbicide resistant or just aggressive spreaders, weeds are a constant plague in both crops and pastures, which is why management options are a key research subject for university and federal scientists. For Dr. Brian Jenks, North Dakota State University’s North Central Research Extension Center weed scientist, Minot, weeds have been at the heart of his research program for more than two decades. That research and its application to local farms and ranches is featured in the fourth webinar of the 2021 MonDak Ag Research Summit Series ...
Whether herbicide resistant or just aggressive spreaders, weeds are a constant plague in both crops and pastures, which is why management options are a key research subject for university and federal scientists. For Dr. Brian Jenks, North Dakota State University’s North Central Research Extension Center weed scientist, Minot, weeds have been at the heart of his research program for more than two decades. That research and its application to local farms and ranches is featured in the fourth webinar of the 2021 MonDak Ag Research Summit Series ...
Pulses have become a very successful crop in the MonDak following their introduction to the region in the 1990s. Today, North Dakota and Montana have consistently ranked #1 and #2 in pulse production in the US for more than a decade. That success, however, has also brought with it-increased threats from disease. Luckily, that threat, in turn, has attracted the interest of pulse crop researchers who have come together in a large, multistate collaboration focusing on root rot in lentil under the direction of Dr. Mary Burrows, Extension Plant...
Weeds and plant diseases are perennial problems for farmers and ranchers in the MonDak and a ripe research topic for university and federal scientists. That research and its application to local farms and ranches is featured in two February webinars from the 2021 MonDak Ag Research Summit Series, which began in January and concludes in March. Tuesday, Feb. 9: Dr. Mary Burrows, Montana Agricultural Experiment Station plant pathologist and associate director and Research Development at Montana State University will present a keynote address on...
Helena - The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) continues to prepare for a foreign animal disease (FAD) introduction into the state. The Animal Health Bureau (AHB) and the Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MVDL) were recently awarded funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to increase practical livestock biosecurity measures and address needs related to receiving, testing, and reporting diagnostic test results, respectively. The AHB was awarded over $29,000 to c...
