Montana Ag Network: Ranchers request investigation into cattle markets
BILLINGS — The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and 22 other state cattlemen’s associations signed a letter requesting an investigation of beef pricing margins by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) which resulted from two recent extreme market shifts due to a packing plant fire in Holcomb, Kansas, in August 2019, and more recently due to COVID-19. Fred Wacker is the MSGA president from Miles City and says they believe determining evidence of any fraudulent business practices within the meatpacking industry is vital to our producer’s continuity of business and needs to be identified quickly and rectified immediately. “Montana Stockgrowers feels
Nearly three quarters of US senators call on Trump administration to help local news
New York (CNN Business)United States Senators have a new idea to boost struggling local news outlets in their home states: Ads from the federal government. Nearly three-quarters of the US Senate have signed a letter to the Trump administration encouraging various agencies to “increase advertising in local newspapers and on broadcast stations in order to help ensure they are able to continue to operate throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.” More than half of the members of the US House of Representatives have lent their names to a letter endorsing the same idea earlier this week. It remains to be seen whether federal agencies will
Daines Secures Over $600,000 for Shodair Children’s Hospital Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE–U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured $642,118 for Shodair Children’s Hospital amid the Coronavirus pandemic. This follows Daines request to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Azar urging the next round of hospital and provider funding under the Phase Three Coronavirus Economic Recovery Package to target the needs of Montana’s rural providers and children’s hospitals, including Shodair Children’s Hospital in Helena. “This funding ensures Shodair Children’s Hospital has the resources it needs to treat young Montanans during this public health crisis,” Daines said. “I’m glad the Trump administration acted quickly on my request to get this done for
Daines Statement on POTUS Signing Into Law Additional $480 Billion in Relief for Small Businesses, Testing, Hospitals During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after President Trump signed a bipartisan deal into law that provides $480 billion in additional relief for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) for small businesses, testing and hospitals in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. To download the full video, click HERE. “A big thank you to President Trump for signing that important legislation we passed in Congress this week,” Daines said. “It’s going to allow us to help our small businesses here in Montana with the Paycheck Protection Program and helping
Daines, Gianforte: All MT Bars and Taverns Now Eligible for PPP Loans
U.S. CONGRESS –U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today announced that Montana’s 2,400 bars and taverns which employ 40,000 Montanans are now eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides $350 billion in 100 percent forgivable loans (grants) to small businesses impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic if they maintain or rehire their employees. “Montana’s 2,400 taverns and bars have been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic which has impacted over 40,000 Montana jobs,” Daines said. “I fought hard to ensure Montana’s taverns and bars are eligible for the same relief as other small businesses across the state to keep their workers employed.
Montana veterans will now receive direct checks automatically
U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that Montana veterans and their beneficiaries who receive VA benefits will be receiving their direct checks automatically without having to do anything extra from the Department of Treasury. This follows Daines urging both Treasury and Veterans Affairs Departments to work together to get the direct checks to Montana veterans the fastest and most effective way possible. “This is great news for our Montana veterans and their families who have given so much in defense of this country,” Daines said. “Ensuring our veterans get these direct checks as quickly and easily as possible will help give
UM scientists work to develop COVID-19 vaccine, receive $2.5M from NIH
MISSOULA – The University of Montana’s Center for Translational Medicine is working on a possible vaccine for COVID-19 right now. To fund the fight against COVID-19, the National Institute of Health awarded UM’s department $2.5 million dollars. The principal investigator on the two-year award is Dr. Jay Evans, the center director and a research professor in UM’s Division of Biological Sciences. “When the call came from NIH in February to shift focus and develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, we quickly adjusted lower priority vaccine projects to focus our efforts on this urgent need,” Evans said. “Our dedicated team of experienced researchers stepped up
Sen. Daines, Tester, Rep. Gianforte add all MT bars under Paycheck Protection Program
U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Senator Jon Tester and U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte, all of Montana, announced Friday all bars in the state may now qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program. “Montana’s 2,400 taverns and bars have been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic which has impacted over 40,000 Montana jobs,” Daines said in a release. “I fought hard to ensure Montana’s taverns and bars are eligible for the same relief as other small businesses across the state to keep their workers employed. I’m glad the Small Business Administration acted on my request to help Montana workers.” “Small businesses across Montana have been shut down
Daines secures $19 billion for Ag
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that USDA will be providing $19 billion in assistance for farmers and ranchers hurting from challenging market conditions due to the Coronavirus pandemic through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Part of the funding will go to help Montana’s cattle producers who have seen a drastic decline in cattle markets during the pandemic. This follows Daines’ request earlier this month to USDA Secretary Perdue urging immediate action for Montana’s ranchers. “Montana farmers and ranchers drive our economy and feed not only America, but the world,” Daines said. “During this Coronavirus pandemic, the hardworking folks