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 Urges Biden Administration to Support Montana Farmers and Ranchers, Increase Agricultural Exports
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined his colleagues in urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to increase U.S. agricultural exports and improve the competitiveness of the U.S. products abroad. “We expect trade to fluctuate in response to macroeconomic factors and market conditions,” wrote the senators. “However, the current sharp decline in U.S. agricultural exports is directly attributable to and exacerbated by an unambitious U.S. trade strategy that is failing to meaningfully expand market access or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. While the Biden administration continually refuses to pursue traditional free trade
Daines Bipartisan Resolution to Establish National FFA Week Passes U.S. Senate
U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan resolution to establish February 17-24, 2024 as National FFA Week unanimously passed the U.S. Senate. Daines issued the following statement and video. “Montana’s FFA students are some of the best and brightest in our state, and they’re the future leaders of the ag industry in Montana and across the country. Each year I’m proud to help introduce a resolution to recognize the amazing work FFA does across Montana to continue our rich heritage.” The resolution highlights the important role of the National FFA Organization in developing the next generation of leaders by providing educational and career
Daines’ Bipartisan Effort to Prevent China from Buying American Farmland, Ag Businesses Included in NDAA
U.S. SENATE – U.S.Senator Steve Daines today announced that his bipartisan bill to blacklist China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from investing in, purchasing or otherwise acquiring land or businesses involved in agriculture was officially included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “Food security is national security and folks across Montana are rightfully concerned that China and our adversaries are buying up American farmland near critical military operations,” Daines said. “In order to protect our national security interests, especially after the Chinese spy balloon floated over Montana’s ICBMs and used American technology against us, we must stop our adversaries in their tracks before they threaten
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