Montana ag leaders praise new U.S.-Japan trade deal
Farmers and ranchers are applauding a new trade agreement signed Monday between the United States and Japan that they say will keep American agricultural products flowing into this lucrative Asian market. During a White House signing ceremony Monday, President Trump said the new trade agreement will be significant for U.S. farmers and ranchers. Japan is the U.S. beef cattle industry’s number one export market valued at more than $2 billion. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., attended the signing ceremony along with Fred Wacker, a rancher from Miles City and president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. Wacker says the new agreement
Daines Celebrates Historic Trade Deal with Japan, Major Victory for MT Ag
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined President Trump at the White House for the official signing ceremony of an historic trade agreement between the United States and Japan. Daines invited Montana rancher and President of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, Fred Wacker, to join him and other key officials at the signing ceremony at the White House. To watch the full video click HERE. “Today is a historic day for Montana ag, as this trade agreement will help level the playing field for Montana ranchers and farmers in Japan’s critical export market,” Daines said. “It was an honor to have led
Montana beef declared winner in U.S.-Japan trade deal
The U.S.-Japan trade agreement signed Monday by President Donald Trump should deliver several million dollars in beef prices for Montana, the Montana Stockgrowers Association said. Fred Wacker, MSGA president, who was at the White House for the signing ceremony, said cattle prices had already increased on news that the deal would be signed. Trade organizations, like the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association noted that beef appeared to be the big winner among agriculture interests included in the limited agreement. Japan’s tariff on U.S. beef is 38.5%, which will decrease gradually to 9% by 2033. The reduction is on track with tariff
Daines, stockgrowers head, attend Japan trade deal signing
Sen. Steve Daines and the head of the Montana Stockgrowers Association were present Monday when President Donald Trump signed a limited trade deal with Japan expected to benefit ranchers and farmers in the Treasure State. The deal will eliminate tariffs and expand market access on farm, industrial and digital products. But it does not address the bigger hurdle of autos. President Donald Trump indicated the two countries were still working on a broader agreement. Joining Daines at the signing was Fred Wacker of Miles City, who serves as president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. Daines’ staff said Daines was invited to
Daines honored at Horses Spirits Healing near Billings for veterans grant
BILLINGS — What began as a facility for Rocky Mountain College equine students has morphed into a form of therapy to help veterans, “ I’ve been raised around horses all my life, so I realized the value of horses in therapy,” Barbara Skelton, treasurer and co-founder of Horses Spirits Healing. On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines stopped by to celebrate securing a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans. “We’ve been working hard, and making requests for getting grants from the VA. And we were successful in getting a nice grant just this week,” the Montana Republican
Daines Pushes for Montana Priorities, Stronger GBSD in NDAA
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines wrote a letter to Congressional leadership urging nuclear modernization and an increase in funding towards the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), the W87-1 warhead, and plutonium pit production in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana is a part of the GBSD project. “The effectiveness of our nuclear deterrent is rooted in the flexibility of the nuclear triad, its reliability, and its ability to stay head of the capabilities of our adversaries,” Daines wrote. “We urge DoD to preserve a robust program of nuclear modernization across the next five-year
Daines to FBI Director: Must Not Compromise Safety of Montanans
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Christopher Wray urging the FBI not to reduce focus on human trafficking in Montana, while also providing further support in Indian Country. “Fighting human trafficking and reducing crime in Indian Country are both critical challenges in Montana. Each area requires undivided attention and additional action,” Daines wrote. “I urge you to assign a full-time agent to focus on human trafficking cases in Montana and another full-time agent to focus on Indian Country cases in Montana.” Daines sent the letter in
Daines asks FBI not to cut trafficking, Indian Country agents
Sen. Steve Daines said he sent a letter Monday to the FBI Director Christopher Wray urging the agency not to reduce resources on human trafficking in Montana. The Billings Gazette recently reported the special agent who had worked full-time on human trafficking will now spend half his time on Indian Country cases. An FBI spokeswoman said it is not uncommon for agents to focus on different areas during their careers. Some have called the change “a blow” to Montana anti-trafficking efforts. While he said he applauded the FBI for providing urgently needed law enforcement in Indian Country, he said human trafficking
Bill to help Kinsey, Sidney water users passed out of committee
Sen. Steve Daines, who is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, has been successful in passing an issue out of that committee to keep power costs for the Kinsey Irrigation and Sidney Water Users districts at an affordable rate. The two groups have been part of the Pick Sloan power group for going on eight decades, but in 2017 received a notice from the Bureau of Reclamation that the agency would not renew their contracts. Jack Connor, an administrative officer for the Bureau of Reclamation, said an audit determined that neither of the two