Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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The Montana Grain Growers Association (MGGA) and the Montana Grains Foundation (MGF) will each offer scholarships to be used for the 2024-2025 school year. MGGA will award (2) $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing an agricultural related degree at the college of their choice. Applicants or their parent, grandparent, or legal guardian must be a current producer member of MGGA. MGF will award (2) $2,500 scholarships to Montana State University graduate students. Applications must be received no later than April 1, 2024, and the winners will...
On Jan. 18, Governor Gianforte announced Audra Ortega, of Glasgow, will serve on the Governor’s Grass Conservation Commission. Ortega is a fourth-generation rancher in northeast Montana and a graduate of Montana State University. She participated in the 2023 M Bar program at the Montana Stockgrowers Association. Her term will run through Jan. 1, 2027. Sigrid Pugrud, of Winnett, was also appointed to serve on the Commission. A graduate of Montana State University, Pugrud is a fourth-generation rancher in Petroleum County. Pugrud also serves a...
Montana Farmers Union has invested $25,000 in burgeoning FFA chapters over the past year through its new FFA New Chapter Sponsorship program. Montana Farmers Union’s standing FFA New Chapter Sponsorship program was created in 2023 to help with startup costs associated with building a chapter. The program is specifically for new or rechaptered FFA programs from Jan. 1, 2022 and offers $2,500 per qualifying chapter. Florence, Frenchtown, Harrison, Havre, Augusta, Belt Valley, Scobey, Nashua, Whitehall and Jordan FFA chapters qualified for the s...
The hunting and trapping of wolves in Region 5, 6 and 7 closed a half hour after sunset Jan. 21. The order halting the harvest of wolves in these regions came after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota of five wolves in these regions had been met. With the exception of Wolf Management Unit 313, wolf harvest quotas elsewhere in the state have yet to be met. Those interested in up-to-date information on the status of Montana’s wolf harvest can view FWP’s wolf dashboard, https...
Two diseases mostly affecting wild birds have been detected recently in Montana. These include pigeon paramyxovirus (PPMV), which has become more widespread in the past month, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has been detected in Montana since 2022. Mortality in wild birds from HPAI tends to cycle with waterfowl migrations, and detections of HPAI in Montana have increased recently due to seasonal migrations. Hunters, livestock and pet owners, and other residents may have questions about these pathogens and what precautionary...
Lucky Clover 4-H did a Meal Fundraiser, and we want to thank the Nashua community for their support of Lucky Clover 4-H. Our club has been doing roller skating for Club Community Hours from 1-3 p.m. on Sundays at the Nashua Civic Center. Lucky Clover is hosting a Valentine’s Day party for roller skating on Sunday, Feb. 11 and there will be treats, cheese and crackers and other goodies. Sewing Camp kids will be making feed bags this year, date TBD. 4-H Council Meeting was held on Jan.16, at 5:30 p.m. at the Court House. At the end of the m...
Lucky Clover 4-H did a Meal Fundraiser, and we want to thank the Nashua community for their support of Lucky Clover 4-H. Our club has been doing roller skating for Club Community Hours from 1-3 p.m. on Sundays at the Nashua Civic Center. Lucky Clover is hosting a Valentine's Day party for roller skating on Sunday, Feb. 11 and there will be treats, cheese and crackers and other goodies. Sewing Camp kids will be making feed bags this year, date TBD. 4-H Council Meeting was held on Jan.16, at 5:30...
The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for over $3 million in federal funding available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program. The purpose of the SCBG program is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Montana. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, peas, lentils, dried fruits, as well as horticulture, nursery crops, and floriculture. State and/or local organizations, government entities, producer associations, academia, community-based organizations, nonprofit...
As the grasshopper forecast for 2024 continues to raise concerns for producers across the state, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is taking action. MSGA in coordination with USDA-APHIS has scheduled two webinars for agency experts to educate members on the opportunities available to mitigate the negative effects of an elevated grasshopper population. MSGA will offer two opportunities for ranchers to participate. The first webinar took place on Jan. 22, and the second on Tuesday, Jan. 30 (https://bit.ly/grasshopperJan30) at 6 p.m....
“Warm temperatures and lack of precipitation over the last couple months have resulted in a bleak start to the seasonal snowpack in Montana and northern Wyoming river basins,” said USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Water Supply Specialist Eric Larson. Water year 2024 began with a mid-October snowstorm that brought about two to five inches of precipitation to part of northern Wyoming and southern Montana. Totals from that storm were less across the rest of Montana, particularly in the northwest where river basins such as the...
The market report for the Glasgow Stockyards as of Jan. 4 show 1,714 cattle sold. This was the first sale of the New Year. Markets are trending steady compared to last test on Dec. 14, 2023. Utility and commercial cows brought in $83-$94; canner and cutter cows $70 to $84; young feeding/turnout cows $95 to $115; and bulls $95 to $113.50. Consignors were: Malta 2040 Bull $113.50 Glasgow 1755 Bull 105.50 Whitewater 1620 Cow 88.00 Wolf Point 1585 Cow 90.00 Wolf Point 1526 Cows 94.00 Harlem 1450 Cow 92.50 Dodson 1393 Cows 91.50 Glasgow 350 HC...
Livestock producers in 21 Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass, and forage sorghum. LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or leased land, or fire on federally managed land. County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of qualifying drought, or if a federal agency prohibits producers from gr...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is forming an advisory council to help begin the process of developing a new statewide mule deer plan. The Mule Deer Citizens Advisory Council (MDCAC) will consist of 10 to 12 people and will identify expectations for the new mule deer plan, which could include expectations for development process, management actions and goals, and results. “As we begin the process of developing a new mule deer plan, we are really open to taking a different approach, if that’s what the public wants,” said FWP Director Dusti...
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. Jan. 30, 2024: Application deadline for 2023 LFP. Producers must complete a CCC-853 and provide required supporting documentation no later than Jan. 30, 2024, for 2023 losses. Jan. 30, 2024: Deadline to file a notice of loss and application for payment for ELAP. The 30-calendar-day (livestock and farm-raised fish) and...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can now enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024. On Nov. 16, 2023, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6363, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-22), which extended the...
A new year brings new opportunities for youth in agriculture! The NILE Foundation is now accepting applications for scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year. For over 30 years, the NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) has awarded scholarships to deserving FFA and 4-H students who have been leaders in their respective programs, excelled in the classroom, participated in NILE events and are actively involved in their communities. “Supporting youth in agriculture is a key component of the NILE Foundation’s mission,” says Gener...
The National Weather Service office in Glasgow has released its climatological report for 2023. Records date back to 1893. The hottest temperature recorded in Glasgow is 113, set back on July 31, 1900. Last year’s highest temp was 107 degrees. The coldest temperature recorded in Glasgow is -59, recorded on Feb. 15, 1936. The coldest this past year was -18 degrees. We received 11.90 inches of moisture in 2023, 1.54 inches below the average. The record is 22.96 inches from 2011. Glasgow has 83.4 inches of snow in calendar year 2011; this year, w...
The year ended with near to above normal annual precipitation for most locations across northeastern Montana. Our wettest month was May which produced 3.89 inches in Glasgow (normal for May is 2.22 inches). The driest month was December with 0.09 inches (normal is 0.43 inches). So far the total snowfall for the 2023-2024 season is above normal as a result of the snowstorm in October which broke the record in many locations as the snowiest October with 14.0 inches. This event accounts for 88 percent of our snowfall this winter so...
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...
