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 Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has released its 2024 Montana Drought Outlook Report. According to the report, much of Montana is facing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions resulting from low snowpack and below-average precipitation during spring and early summer. Depending upon accumulated precipitation and temperatures over the next four to six weeks, the net deficits in June could result in the onset of widespread drought by late July. According to the report, 40 percent of the state is classified...
Governor Greg Gianforte has announced his request for federal assistance to respond to the St. Mary siphons failure was granted by Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton. “I’m grateful for this much needed federal assistance to repair the St. Mary and Halls Coulee siphons,” Gov. Gianforte said. “The State of Montana stands ready to assist local and federal officials in responding to the widespread effects the failure will have on water users and irrigators.” On June 17, a catastrophic failure of the St. Mary siphons led to concerns...
Governor Greg Gianforte has announced the State of Montana received a nearly $50 million investment in Montana’s working and natural lands from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Montana is one of just 25 recipients across the nation to be awarded funding. “We’re known in Montana for our innovative spirit and our strong history of conservation,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I’m grateful we worked together to secure this historic investment to improve the resilience of our forests, agriculture industry, and waterways through innovative,...
Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2024 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2024. “Serving on a Farm Service Agency county committee is your chance to ensure that other producers who share your interests, your production practices, and your perspective a...
The cities of Chinook, Harlem and Havre are asking residents to voluntarily reduce lawn irrigation to conserve water while the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works are repaired. “Following the recent conditions of the siphons at the St. Mary Diversion, the Havre, Chinook, and Harlem communities have been working with Montana Rural Water to find ways to conserve water along the Milk River,” Havre Public Works Director Trevor Mork said in a release on July 17 . “With our available water supply being reduced and the continued drought in our a...
The Montana 4-H Foundation recently announced that it has awarded nearly $40,000 in scholarships to 45 graduating 4-H members and alumni. The recipients, from 28 Montana counties and tribal areas, can use the scholarships for post-secondary education during the 2024-2025 academic year. Scholarship recipients were recognized July 11 at the 2024 Montana 4-H Congress held on the Montana State University campus in Bozeman. Jane Wolery, executive director of the Montana 4-H Foundation, said the foundation and its donors are looking forward to seeing...
The market report for the Glasgow Stockyards on July 11 show 564 cattle sold. Utility and commercial cows sold for $135 to $147.50; canner and cutter cows $125 to $137; young feeding/turnout cows $170 to $211.25; and bulls $155 to $182. Consignors were: Wolf Point 2240 Bull 170.50 Whitewater 2235 Bull 170.50 Flaxville 2115 Bull 171.00 Whitewater 2095 Bull 171.00 Hinsdale 2090 Bull 172.00 Malta 1985 Bull 171.50 Zortman 1955 Bull 182.00 Loring 1011 Young Cows 208.00 Jordan 997 Young Cows 211.25 Scobey Yearling Angus Breeding Bull $7,250 Loring...
Joining Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), Governor Greg Gianforte July 11 visited with a longtime partner of the Block Management Program in Valley County to thank him for his partnership and celebrate increasing hunting access for Montanans. "Through Block Management, Montanans have access to nearly eight million acres of private land to hunt and recreate, and even more when considering the access those acres provide to adjacent or isolated public lands," Gov. Gianforte said. "I'm...
Beneath wispy clouds set in a blindingly blue sky where Montana and Saskatchewan become indistinguishable from one another sits the Louie Petrie Ranch, an exemplary model in ranch tradition, innovative trial, and targeted implementation. It's on this land outside of Turner where you'll find multiple generations strategizing for the long-term viability of the ranch originally homesteaded in 1901. "If you improve the resource, you're improving your bottom line," says Tyrel Obrecht, a...
Fifth- grade students from across Valley County gathered for Valley County Conservation District's annual Outdoor Classroom event on May 15. Students started their day at Irle Elementary with an edible bug assembly presented by MSU County Extension Agent Roubie Younkin. During this portion students learned about how bugs can be incorporated into the daily food we eat and got to enjoy home-cooked treats that included ants. This tradition is something students either really enjoy or really hate. F...
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. July 15, 2024: The Acreage Reporting Date for Spring Alfalfa Seed, all other spring seeded crops, Perennial Forage, Hemp, CRP acres and Grazing acreage is 15 days before the onset of harvest or grazing, or July 15, whichever is earlier. Aug. 1, 2024: Deadline to request a farm reconstitution or farm transfer for 2024. Aug. 1,...
The market report for the Glasgow Stockyards on June 27 show 1,059 cattle sold. Utility and commercial cows were sold for $137 to $156; canner and cutter cows $125 to $137; young feeding/turnout cows, $150 to $236; and bulls $155 to $183.50. Consignors were: Saco 1753 Bulls 178.50 Saco 1994 Bulls 179.50 Whitewater 2260 Bull 183.50 ($4136) Malta 2308 Bulls 181.00 ($4177) Whitewater 2705 Bull 175.00 ($4734) Hinsdale 1075 Young Cows 203.00 Wolf Point 1045 Young Cows 201.00 Scobey 1043 Young Cows 209.00 Zortman 1409 Cows 147.50 Wolf Point 1430 Cow...
To support the next generation of agricultural professionals, the National Farmers Union Foundation (NFUF) proudly announces the 2024 recipients of its annual scholarship awards. Each year, NFUF awards scholarships to students in various fields of study who are attending accredited two- or four-year colleges, universities or technical schools. These students have demonstrated academic excellence and a strong commitment to their communities. “To secure a bright future for our organization, our communities and American agriculture, we must e...
In light of recent storms, the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding producers that when there is a hail loss, it is the participating producers’ responsibility to inform the Hail Insurance Program of the loss within 14 days of the storm. Producers can call, email, or mail/fax in their completed loss forms. Applications for State Hail Insurance Policy are available through MDA’s State Hail Insurance Program. Producers can insure crops against hail damage at the maximum coverage rate of $75 per acre for dryland and $114 per acr...
The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee is soliciting applications to fill vacant stakeholder representative member positions. Members are sought to fill vacancies on the committee to represent various categories of interests within the Missouri River basin. The MRRIC was formed to advise the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a study of the Missouri River and its tributaries and to provide guidance to USACE with respect to the Missouri River recovery and mitigation activities currently underway. USACE established MRRIC as required...
The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division announced a significant expansion of its efforts to address agricultural issues, with a plan to increase staffing dedicated to civil and criminal enforcement in the sector. Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ Antitrust Division Michael Kades made this announcement on June 24 at R-CALF USA’s 2024 Annual National Convention in Deadwood, S.D. The DOJ intends to expand hiring of lawyers for its Chicago office, who will primarily focus on antitrust, competition and fairness issues within a...
Montana Farm Bureau has a long history of advocating for and protecting their members’ property rights including water rights. The state’s largest general agricultural organization helped craft and support HB 286 during the 2019 Legislative Session which called for the DNRC to remove the state’s name from water rights that were added without due process. The now law also created a process for State Trust Lands to follow, should they wish to exert co-ownership on post-1973 water rights. The new process ensures that water right holders are notif...
The Biden Administration announced on July 5 they will immediately begin rehabilitation work along the Milk River Project following last month’s siphon burst. The Bureau of Reclamation agreed to fund the repairs through existing emergency authorities under Public Law 111-11. “This is an important step forward for North Central Montana water users who rely on the Milk River Project to support their farm operations that feed the world and to keep their small businesses running,” said Tester. “I called on the Bureau of Reclamation to use their eme...
The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is proud to announce Jacquelyn "Jacquie" Evans as the recipient of the 2024 Gold Star Award. Evans, the science integration specialist with the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV), received this prestigious accolade on June 12, 2024, at the Matador Ranch Science Symposium. The Gold Star Award is presented annually by the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and achievement in conservation efforts....
Following a major siphon burst on the Milk River Project near Babb, Mont., U.S. Senator Jon Tester on June 21, took to the Senate floor to successfully pass the Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) Water Rights Settlement Act which would provide critical funding for repairs on the Milk River Project. The legislation is led in the Senate by both Tester and Senator Daines. The FBIC Water Settlement – the final Indian Water Rights Water Settlement in Montana – will ratify the FBIC Water Rights Compact with the State of Montana, provide res...
Governor Greg Gianforte recently sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton requesting federal assistance in response to the St. Mary siphon failure. “The failure of the siphons not only flooded and damaged property in the immediate area but also jeopardizes drinking water for 14,000 Montanans and irrigation for over 18,000 water users,” Gov. Gianforte wrote. “The loss of over 121,000 acres of irrigatable land will be disastrous for Montana’s farmers and ranchers as well as Monta...
A piece of infrastructure used to divert water from the St. Mary River to the North Fork of the Milk River has suffered a "catastrophic failure," according to Milk River Project personnel. The failure involves the St. Mary River Siphon, which is composed of a pair of 90-inch riveted steel barrels that traverse a 3,200-foot section of the St. Mary Valley to divert water to the North Fork of the Milk River. In a Facebook post, the Milk River Joint Board of Control said the failure occurred at...
The market report for the Glasgow Stockyards on June 20 show 355 cattle sold. Utility and commercial cows were sold for $125 to $149.50; canner and cutter cows $110 to $135; young feeding/turnout cows, no test. Consignors were: Chinook 2520 Bull $175.00 Scobey 2305 Bull $175.00 Chinook 2265 Bulls $177.50 Glasgow 2210 $175.00 Glasgow 2150 Bull $175.00 Scobey 2125 Bull $171.50 Glasgow 2069 Bulls $180.00 Chinook 2060 Bull $172.50 Chinook 1815 Bull $178.50 Scobey 1438 $148.00 Malta 1415 Cow $145.50 Harlem 1415 Cow $142.50 Opheim 1395 Cow $144.00...
Agricultural producers in Montana should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline after planting is complete. “Many USDA programs require producers to file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline in order to receive program benefits,” said State Executive Director in Montana Maureen Wicks. “Once planting is complete, call your local FSA office to make an appointment to report your acreage. We also encourage you to take care of any o...
