Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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USDA continues to accept applications for assistance through the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program for Montana farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. The application process will close on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. Borrowers have the option to apply for assistance online via 22007apply.gov or through a paper-based form. Details about the program, including an application and e-filing portal, are available at 22007apply.gov. The website includes an...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) will host a series of listening sessions this winter. The agencies invite perspectives on the benefits and challenges of the rapidly increasing levels of clean energy located on agricultural lands and in rural communities. USDA and DoE seek feedback directly from a diverse set of stakeholders about what the agencies can do through their leadership, program guidance, or research and information sharing to encourage locations positive clean energy, so outcomes...
The Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas State Office has opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on 26 oil and gas parcels totaling 5,053 acres that may be included in a July 2024 lease sale in Montana and North Dakota. The comment period ends Jan. 29, 2024. The parcels the BLM is analyzing, as well as maps and instructions on how to comment are available on the BLM’s ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2030415/510. As authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, BLM will apply a 1...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds specialty crop growers that assistance is available for producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification through the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program. Producers can apply for assistance on their calendar year 2023 expenses through Jan. 31, 2024. “The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops program is just one of the many ways USDA is helping support local and regional food systems and o...
Lucky Clover met on Dec. 10. Before the meeting started we decorated the Senior Center. The meeting was called to order by Jaydeen and he had some older members talk about club history and what the Pledge means. We made sure everybody got their letters sent out to Veterans. We made Christmas tree ornaments for the 4-H tree at the courthouse and made a 4-H float for the Parade of Lights on Dec. 2. Our club decided to have a Valentine’s Day party at the Nashua roller skating rink on Feb. 11, 2024. We plan to do a meal fundraiser for one of the N...
The market report for the Glasgow Stockyards as of Dec. 7, show 2,429 cattle sold. It was a great stock cow and bred heifer auction. We ended up with 650 bred heifers and 725 bred cows. Utility and commercial cows brought in $84 to $94; canner and cutter cows $70 to $85; and bulls $90 to $105.50. Bred heifers brought in $1,850 to $2750 per head. Three-to-five year old bred cows brought in $2,400 to $2,950 with the top at $3,000. Middle-age bred cows brought in $1,900 to $2,600. Short term brought in $1,450 to $2,050....
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation announces their ACE (Advocate. Communicate. Educate) Leadership Program class for 2024. This is the ACE Leadership Program’s seventh year of empowering Farm Bureau members to become confident and effective leaders in their local communities, for Montana agriculture and for their county Farm Bureaus. The program arms its participants to communicate industry issues and represent Farm Bureau interests at the local, state and national level. ACE successfully does this by focusing on leadership development, e...
Livestock producers across the country will be welcoming new piglets, lambs, kids and foals in the winter and spring months. Montana State University Extension in Cascade County will host a free webinar series this and next month on how to assist livestock giving birth. The “You’ve Got to be Kidding?!” webinar series will address neonatal care; handling difficult births, called dystocia; colostrum; and other topics. Presenters will include a veterinarian and experts from MSU Extension. The webinar series welcomes livestock producers and youth...
The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee will meet Wednesday, Dec. 19, via Zoom from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The 13-member advisory committee, appointed by the governor, is charged with reviewing FWP’s access programs and offering recommendations to help achieve program goals and maintaining good relations between hunters and landowners. Members are Ed Beall, chair, of Helena, Eric Albus, of Hinsdale, Cynthia Cohan, of Butte, Lee Cornwell, of Glasgow, Paul Ellis, of Bozeman, Everett Headley, of Stevensville, Donna McDonald, of Alder, Rod P...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers. More than 26,000 customers who submit a Direct Loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet and build a farm operating plan. This tool is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, im...
The market report for the Glasgow Stockyards as of Nov. 30, show 3,592 cattle. Cow and bulls holding fairly steady. Feeder calves selling stronger. Utility and commercial cows brought in $85 to $95; canner and cutter cows $70 to $85; young feeding/turnout cow $95 to $166. Bulls brought in $94 to $110 with the top selling for $116. 300-400 SC $330 to $376, HC $295 to $316; 400-500 SC $295 to $343.50, HC $256 to $300; 500-600 SC $250 to $303.75, HC $224 to $256. Dec. 7, was the Glasgow Stockyards big stock cow/bred heifer auction. The results of...
USDA in Montana reminds agricultural producers of important Farm Service Agency (FSA) program dates. Contact your local service center to apply and with any questions. Visit online at farmers.gov and fsa.usda.gov/mt. Dec. 31: 2024 NAP Application for Coverage Deadline for Honey Dec. 31: deadline for requesting Extraordinary Measures assistance under IRA Section 22006 Dec. 31: deadline for requesting Extraordinary Measures assistance and Cash Flow Based Assistance IRA payments under IRA Section 22006 Jan. 13, 2024: Inflation Reduction Act...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in Montana State Director Kathleen Williams has announced that the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana became one of the first nationwide to receive a $191,000 grant through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program. This grant program is designed to support the priorities of Tribal Nations in reducing nutrition insecurity, as well as expanding and enhancing indigenous animal and meat...
A new federal reporting requirement aimed at reducing corporate crime will affect some Montana farmers, ranchers and businesses, according to Montana State University Extension. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, certain corporations, limited liability companies and other entities created or registered to do business in the U.S. will be required to report information about their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, within the U.S. Treasury Department. The new reporting requirement stems from the Corporate...
On Nov. 30, leading a group of western governors, Governor Greg Gianforte opposed an attempt by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to change its grazing policies without collaboration and urged them to pause changes immediately. In a letter to BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning, Gov. Gianforte and four other western governors expressed their frustration with the BLM’s various attempts to change policy without collaboration, eroding the public’s trust. “It is disappointing and frustrating to exclude cooperators from regulatory policy discu...
Six representatives of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) traveled to Taiwan in early November to visit with trade officials and business leaders about further opportunities for partnership with the country that ranks sixth in agricultural products trade with the United States. This trade mission was led by Governor Gianforte and included representatives from Montana’s agricultural, manufacturing, photonics, and bioscience industries. Montana Farm Bureau representatives included President Cyndi Johnson, MFBF Executive Vice President S...
Montana Stockgrowers Association Second Vice President Turk Stovall arrived in Taipei, Taiwan, Oct. 28, joining Governor Gianforte and a delegation of Montana business representatives. Stovall is one of 15 representatives from the Montana food and agriculture sectors and the only representative focused solely on opportunities to expand the demand of Montana beef. While in Taiwan, Stovall worked to establish business relationships and explore opportunities for U.S. beef exports to the region. Taiwan is currently one of Montana’s top trade p...
This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. Impacted...
On Nov. 1, President Biden visited Minnesota Farmers Union member Dutch Creek Farms in Northfield, Minn., to announce $5 billion in investments in rural communities, ranging from rural infrastructure, economic development, sustainability, and climate-smart agricultural practices. “Today’s announced investments in Rural America is more hard evidence the Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to our communities,” said National Farmer’s Union (NFU) President Rob Larew. “Today’s news from President Biden will bring significant funding for pr...
Gavins Point Dam releases will be reduced in late November as flow support to navigation ends. Releases are currently 32,000 cubic feet per second. “We will continue to make releases from Gavins Point Dam to provide flow support at an intermediate service level, 1,500 cfs less than full service, through the end of the navigation flow support season,” said John Remus, chief of the USACE, Missouri River Water Management Division. “The flow support season will end on Dec. 1 at the mouth of the Missouri River.” Release reductions to the winter rate...
Gathering around the table for a Thanksgiving dinner won’t take as much of a toll on your pocketbook this year compared to 2022, but the meal still reflects historically high costs. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 38th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for 10, which is $61.17 or less than $6.20 per person. This is a 4.5 decrease from last year’s record-high average of $64.05, but a Thanksgiving meal is still 25 percent higher than it was in 2019, which highlights the impact high su...
Recently the Glasgow School District received a $440 grant from the Beef To School Grant program administered by Great Northern Development. According to Katie Potter, of the Glasgow School District, the District ordered $440 worth of beef from the North of Nowhere Farms, in Opheim. North of Nowhere Farms has their beef processed in Billings and it is USDA Certified. The North of Nowhere Farm raises grass fed and grass finished beef. The Glasgow School District purchased 83.82 pounds of hamburger from North of Nowhere Farms with the $440...
We initiated the new officers. Jaydeen Hanshew is President, Lucas Tatafu is Vice President, Reata Walden is Secretary, Britany Fuller is Treasurer, Emma Kirkland is Reporter, Elise Kirkland is Sunshine Officer. Jaydeen went to the Kiwanis Luncheon and our club got second place and won $50. We finished our wreath sales and wreaths will be delivered around Thanksgiving. Upcoming events are Awards Day Nov. 19, at 3 p.m., at St. Raphael’s. Horse Family Meeting at 1p.m. with pizza at St. Raphael’s. The beef weigh-ins are Dec. 2. Lucky Clover 4H...
The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) Cattle Drive program has set out to do something no other cattle organization in the state has done—match Montana born, raised, and fed cattle with local restaurants and retailers. The “Montanans Feeding Montana Initiative” seeks to connect the Montana food service industry to the high-quality beef raised by Montana ranchers. The Cattle Drive program is in its sixth year, with this year launching the value-added focus that intentionally pairs partners together to keep the entire beef supply chain in Mon...
During the Nov. 8 Kiwanis Club meeting at the Cottonwood, the top 4-H Clubs, as judged by the County Extension Office, were awarded monetary funds to be utilized within their club activities. First place, receiving $100, was Northern Lights 4-H Club. In second place, receiving $75, was Lucky Clover Club. In third place, receiving $50, was Western Valley. In fourth place, receiving $25, was Cherry Creek. The extension agent scores each club and provides the scores to the Kiwanis for recognition...
