Agriculture is Montana’s top industry, and the hard work of our farmers and ranchers puts food on the table for families across the country and the world. Protecting and promoting Montana agriculture is one of my top priorities in Congress.
On the Senate Agriculture Committee, I worked hard to pass the 2018 Farm Bill for our farmers and ranchers. It includes Montana agriculture priorities such as protecting crop insurance, expanding broadband access in rural Montana, securing funds for land grant universities, and supporting important conservation programs such as EQIP and CSP. The 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2018.
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Bring Integrity, Transparency to MT Cattle Markets
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped introduce a bipartisan bill to return fairness and transparency to the cattle markets that are currently dominated by four major meat packers. “It’s high time we put an end to the price gouging and manipulation plaguing Montana cattle markets. Restoring competition and transparency to our cattle markets will make certain that Montana ranchers are competing on a level playing field and help ensure Montana families are paying fair prices at the grocery store. I will always support the Montana farmers and ranchers who feed our great state, nation, and the rest of the world,” Daines said. The “Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act”
Daines, Rosendale, Zinke Push for Local Engagement in American Prairie Reserve Grazing Proposal
Call on Biden Administration to Hold Appeals Hearing in Malta, Montana U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Representatives Matt Rosendale and Ryan Zinke today sent a letter urging the Biden administration to hold its appeals hearing concerning the American Prairie Reserve Grazing Proposal in Malta, Montana, instead of Billings, which is over 200 miles away from Phillips County. This would allow Montanans most affected by the proposal to easily attend the hearing. “The American Prairie Reserve’s proposal, if implemented, will open nearly 70,000 acres in Phillips County to grazing by non-production livestock, eliminate interior fencing, and modify the season of use.
Daines Statement on Biden Admin’s Heavy-Handed WOTUS Rule
U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “This is a step in the wrong direction from the Biden administration and it infringes on the rights of Montana farmers, ranchers and landowners,” Daines said. “This overreaching rule threatens Montana ag and natural resources and is unacceptable. I will continue to vigorously fight to protect Montanans from out-of-touch rules handed down from D.C. bureaucrats.” The EPA WOTUS rule defines which bodies of water are subject to federal jurisdiction under the 1970 Clean Water Act. The Obama administration rule was
Daines Slams Biden Administration Over Dismissal of Montana Ag Concerns in APR Grazing Decision
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Tracy Stone-Manning demanding an explanation for the flagrant dismissal of Montana ag groups’ concerns in the decision making process for the America Prairie Reserve Grazing Proposal. “On July 28, 2022, the Bureau of Land Management issued a Final Decision for the America Prairie Reserve Grazing Proposal covering nearly 70,000 acres of land in Phillips County. As you know first-hand, given the unprecedented nature of this proposal—authorizing grazing by non-production livestock, eliminating interior fencing, and modifying the season of use—this proposal has garnered controversy
Two Bipartisan Cattle Market Transparency Bills Voted out of Committee, Head to Senate Floor
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today is calling for Senate passage of two bipartisan bills he cosponsored to help bring fairness to the cattle markets and support Montana ag. The bipartisan “Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act” and “Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act” were passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee today and will head to the Senate floor. “It’s past time we put an end to the manipulation and price gouging within the cattle markets. Restoring competition and transparency in the cattle market will ensure Montana ranchers are competing on a level playing field and Montana families are paying fair prices at the grocery store. I’m urging swift passage of these important bipartisan bills to help support Montana ag,” Daines said. In November 2021, Daines helped introduce
Daines Calls on Biden to Reduce High Fertilizer Costs for Montana Farmers, Increase U.S. Oil & Gas Production
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter calling on President Biden to take immediate action to reduce high fertilizer costs for Montana farmers, including taking steps to increase U.S. oil and gas production. “Ongoing supply-chain bottlenecks and the rising cost of energy are among the factors sending fertilizer prices soaring, and disruptions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will only compound the problem. As a result, Americans will pay more at restaurants, grocery stores, and other places,” Daines wrote. “We are therefore urging your administration to review all possible options to lower the cost of fertilizer,” Daines continued. “…Quickly undertaking such
Daines Statement on Effort to Increase Transparency in Cattle Markets Following His Push
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after the Biden administration announced steps to increase transparency in cattle markets and released an “Action Plan” to address unfair practices. Daines describes the action, which comes after years of his work on the issue, as a positive step with more action needed. “Montana ranchers must be able to compete on a level playing field. I have long worked to address the unfair practices of the largest meat packers that are hurting Montana ranchers. While this is a welcome step forward from the Administration, we must continue to fight to ensure ranchers are
Daines Continues to Elevate Montana Ag Issues, Demands Halt of Brazilian Fresh Beef Imports
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan effort to help support Montana ranchers by calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately suspend fresh beef imports from Brazil. “Cattle producers across the country work hard to produce the highest quality beef in the world,” the letter states. “This industry should not be jeopardized by Brazilian beef imports that may contaminate U.S. herds and our food supply. We support the requests to suspend Brazilian fresh beef imports until a thorough investigation can be made into Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply food safety review process.” Read the full letter HERE. In 2017,
Daines Continues Push for Drought Relief for Montana Farmers and Ranchers
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to close the gap in coverage for Montana farmers and ranchers who were impacted by this year’s devastating drought. “While livestock producers welcomed these improvements to ELAP assistance, we continue to hear from producers who have been severely affected by drought this year and have incurred costs related to transporting their livestock to feed sources instead of hauling feed to their livestock. Under current regulations, these producers are not eligible for ELAP transportation assistance. We respectfully request that FSA exercise its authority to further improve ELAP by providing payments to producers for a portion of the costs