Tag: Agriculture

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

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today helped introduce the “Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act.” The bill is part of Daines’ efforts to return fairness to the cattle marketplace dominated by four major meat packers. “We must bring transparency to the cattle market to ensure Montana ranchers are competing on a level playing field and receiving the fairest price for their beef. This bill is an important step forward to ensuring the largest packers can no longer manipulate the market,” Daines writes.  The “Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act” will:  Establish regional mandatory minimum thresholds of negotiated cash and negotiated grid

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is returning from a successful trip to India where he met with India’s top trade official, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Indian pulse crop buyers to improve market access for Montana farmers and promote Montana pulse crops. Daines’ visit comes ahead of the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum later this month, in which Daines urged Montana ag priorities be front and center during the discussion. “We must level the playing field and increase access to the Indian market for Montana’s pulse crop farmers. Developing these relationships with India’s top trade officials and India’s pulse crop importers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines will be in India this week to meet with top trade officials, including India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, as part of his efforts to improve access to this critical market for Montana pulse crop farmers. “Agriculture is Montana’s number one economic driver and part of our way of life. Leveling the playing field and opening markets for Montana farmers is a top priority of mine, especially with India. With Montana being the number one producer of pulse crops in the nation, and India being the largest consumer of pulse crops in the world, it’s a

U.S. CONGRESS– U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Matt Rosendale today announced that they secured a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities in northeast Montana recover from a severe windstorm that left many without power. This announcement comes after the Montana delegation sent a letter to President Biden making this request.  “Families, farmers, ranchers and businesses in northeast Montana have been struggling since the dangerous windstorm in June. I’m glad to see relief coming to Montana to help with repairs that will get folks back to everyday life,” Daines said. “This summer’s extreme weather has wreaked havoc across our state,

U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the “USA Beef Act,” to ensure only beef products from cattle born, raised and slaughtered in the United States can use the “Product of USA” label. “Montana ranchers produce the best beef in the world,” Daines said. “Montana ranchers deserve to receive a fair price for their beef, and Montana families at the store deserve to know the quality of what they are buying. More accurate labeling is a win for all Montanans.” Download a video statement HERE. Background: Current United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules allow for foreign beef raised in other countries to receive

U.S. CONGRESS– U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Matt Rosendale today sent a letter to President Biden supporting Governor Greg Gianforte’s request for a major disaster declaration after a severe windstorm left thousands of Montanans without power in the northeast part of the state. “The damage done to transmission and distribution lines essential to everyday life for Montana families and farmers is far beyond what the state or consumer-members of our local electric cooperatives can alleviate,” the letter states.  “Noting the sheer number of disasters Montana has experienced over the last few years, including, at present, a severe drought and wildfire season, federal assistance

U.S. SENATE– U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bill to maintain President Trump’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) and prevent a return to burdensome regulations like those imposed by the Obama-Biden Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS), which threatened Montana farmers and ranchers. “Montana farmers and ranchers are longstanding stewards of our lands and waterways—they shouldn’t be burdened with more bureaucratic red-tape that would allow the federal government to regulate every pond, puddle, or ditch,” Daines said.  Read the bill text HERE. Background: Senator Daines has been a strong supporter of the NWPR and has often spoken out against the far-reaching, burdensome federal regulations imposed by the 2015 Waters of the United States rule (WOTUS). On July 12, Daines sent

U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Matt Rosendale today continued their push for drought relief for Montana farmers and ranchers. Daines, Tester and Rosendale are teaming up to urge USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide additional drought relief and flexibilities for Montana agriculture producers located in counties that were not covered by drought designations or federal assistance programs. “Unfortunately, many of the producers who suffered the greatest heat-related losses were either located in counties not covered by the drought designations, experienced losses not covered by drought assistance programs, or both,” the letter states. “Due to the severity of the situation, we believe that additional federal assistance

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led all 50 Senate Republicans in urging President Biden to abandon his effort to impose a tax increase on Montana family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches. “These changes are a significant tax increase that would hit family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches hard, particularly in rural communities,” the Senators wrote. “These businesses consist largely of illiquid assets that will in many cases need to be sold or leveraged in order to pay the new tax burden. Making these changes could force business operators to sell property, lay off employees, or close their doors just to cover these new tax obligations.”  Read the full text of