Montana Farm Bureau Federation
N EWS B RIEF
Volume 33- No. 2 - March 2015
Bison, predation bills
For the 8th year, Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has been the
first state in the nation to report quota to the American Farm Bureau Federation
(AFBF). The AFBF membership quota is based on a state’s past year membership plus one. Last year Montana ended the year with 18,805 members and
quota for this year was 18,806.
“Thanks to the efforts of our entire team, Montana reported 18,848 members
or 42 members more than quota that was needed,” noted Montana Farm Bureau
President Bob Hanson. “We look forward to seeing our membership continue to
climb in 2015.”
The Montana Farm Bureau supports two bills that could affect its
members: HB 145 provides funding
for a predator prevention program and
SB 284 requires county commissioner
approval on introducing bison to an
area.
“We support SB 248 because it
gives county commissioners the final
say in whether or not the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks can
transplant wild bison into the county,”
noted MFBF Lobbyist Nicole Rolf.
House Bill 145, introduced by
Rep. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka, provides
a statutory appropriation to reduce
predation on livestock by wolves and
grizzly bears. “MFBF supports this
proactive bill because it will help prevent predation on livestock by wolves
and grizzly bears and helps ranchers deal with the financial stresses
caused by these large predators,” said
Rolf. “Even as amended—the Senate
reduced funding from $400,000 to
$200,000—the bill will at least temporarily provide funding for preventative
projects and other expenses incurred.”
Read more at www.mfbf.org.
Scholarships available
New committee formed
MFBF members visited all of the Montana Congressional Delegation during the AFBF Issues Advisory
Committee Meetings/Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. Pictured left to right: Turk Stovall, Larry
and Charlene Switzer, Gary Heibertshausen, Sen. Steve Daines, Tom DePuydt, Sarah Boyer, Bruce Wright
and John Youngberg. (See story page 2.)
Montana Farm Bureau first to make quota
Got a kid heading to college? Have
him or her apply for the Women’s
Leadership Committee Scholarships
($1,000 each) or the Bernard Greufe
Scholarship ($1,000).
Visit www.mfbf.org for all scholarship details and deadlines as they are
coming up April 1. Applicants must be
from a Farm Bureau member family to
be eligible.
Estate planning
Mountain West Farm Bureau
Mutual Insurance Company is hosting
several wealth transfer and business
succession seminars around the state.
These free workshops are slated for
March 31, Belgrade; April 1, Lewistown; April 2, Great Falls and April 3,
Missoula.
For more information on estate planning contact your MWFMBIC agent.
At the recommendation of the
Montana Farm Bureau Board and
members, MFBF now has a Promotion and Education (P&E) Committee.
This committee will work in coordination with the American Farm Bureau
P&E Committee. Jennifer Bergin will
be the chairman of the committee and
Diana Bailey will be the staff coordinator. Stay tuned for more details.
Members travel to D.C. for advocacy, issues
Six Montana Farm Bureau members
spent the week in Washington, D.C.
visiting policymakers and discussing the
most pressing issues facing agriculture.
They joined more than 500 other Farm
Bureau members from 43 states for
American Farm Bureau Federation’s Issues Advisory Committee meetings and
Advocacy Conference. Issues discussed
District 7 Director Tom DePuydt, federal lands
advisory committee, and Bruce Wright, farm policy
committee, stop outside of Representative Ryan
Zinke’s office.
covered a wide range of topics including
immigration, tax reform, international
trade, the Endangered Species Act, water regulation and biotechnology.
The Issues Advisory Committee
members representing Montana were
Tom DePuydt, federal lands; Larry
Switzer, market structures; Turk Stovall,
animal care; Sarah Boyer, food safety;
Gary Heibertshausen, environmental
regulations and Bruce Wright, farm
policy. The purpose of the advisory
committees is to identify concerns on an
issue, talk about solutions, and how state
Farm Bureau policy might be established on the issues.
The Advocacy Conference concentratred on getting your message out to
lawmakers. Visit www.mfbf.org to read
more.
REAL Montana applications now open
Are you committed to the future viability of natural resources in Montana?
Do you want to become a more effective leader in your community, industry,
and state?
If these themes resonate with you or someone you know, an exciting opportunity is available. Applications are now open for Class II of REAL Montana.
Up to 20 applicants will be competitively selected to take part in the two-year
program focused on leadership development, natural resource education, professional skill building and networking.
Several MFBF members participated in the current class including Breahna
Patten from Broadus. “The entire experience has been fantastic,” said Patten. “I
strongly recommend it. However, look at it hard because it is a commitment.
I found it has been very beneficial and the list of skills and networks you will
develop because of this class are unending.”
Complete information, including program expectations, Class II dates, and
the online application form, is available at www.realmontana.org. All applications must be received by May 31, 2015.
YF&R, WLC learn at FUSION Conference
Farm Bureau members had great
experiences during the FUSION Conference February 13-16 in Nashville.
The event offered leadership as well as
technical training.
This was the first AFBF Conference that Justine Kougl of Kirby had
attended and she was thrilled.
“There are many college kids
interested in blogging and working on
different social media sites promoting
agriculture and
talking about
their farms and
ranches. It’s
good to know
they are going to
continue communicating with
the public.”
Read more at
www.mfbf.org.
A large delegation of MFBF
Young Farmers & Ranchers,
Collegiates and Women’s
Leadership in Nashville.
Everything equine
Horse ethusiasts will want to attend the 2015 MSU Extension Equine
Conference “Equine Nutrition: Feeds,
Feeding and Nutritional Health. The
conference runs from 8:30 am to 4:30
p.m. Saturday, March 28 at Linfield
Hall, MSU. Speakers include Dr. Joe
Pagan, PhD. of Kentucky Equine
Research along with several other vets
who will discuss forages and feed.
Send name, address and email address
with $15 by March 20 to: Julie Hager,
Animal & Range Sciences, PO Box
172900, Bozeman, MT 59717-2900;
[email protected]; 406-994-7953.
Looking for a well-started colt?
Don’t miss the Equine Boosters of
MSU Top of the West Horse Sale
Saturday, April 11 at Copper Spring
Ranch near Bozeman. Horses offered
are from colt-breaking classes at MSU
and UM-Western.
“This is a great way to highlight
the donors horses and their breeding
programs, and have a chance to buy
some great colts,” said MSU Equine
Instructor Reata Brannaman.
The colt preview is at 10 a.m. followed by the sale at 1 p.m. Horses may
be viewed during the UM-Western
and MSU Colt Training Competition,
held April 10, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at
Copper Spring Ranch.
Farmland movie on
sale at Walmart
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker James Moll’s feature-length
documentary, FARMLAND is now
available at Walmart and Walmart.
com. This provides another opportunity for viewers to experience the
film, which offers a firsthand glimpse
inside the world of farming by showcasing the lives of six young farmers
and ranchers in their twenties.
FARMLAND premiered in theaters across the country in spring 2014,
and now is available on hard disk for
rent and purchase at Netflix, Amazon,
select retail outlets and On Demand
platforms. Watch it today!
Press releases
Following are excerpts of press releases from the Montana Farm Bureau
Federation and American Farm Bureau Federation. You can see the releases in
their entirety at www.mfbf.org or fb.org.
Celebrate National Agriculture Week March 15-21
National Agriculture Week March 15-21 marks a time to celebrate agriculture.
What better way to celebrate than to look at the success of Montana agriculture.
Agriculture is the No. 1 driver in Montana’s economy with its farmers and ranchers
contributing $2 billion to the country’s economy. Montana ag statistics shows that
wheat is Montana’s largest export with nearly 75 percent of the crop being exported
to Asia. If that’s not impressive enough, Montana is the leading producer of certified
organic wheat, dry peas and lentils.
Ag Safety Week Focuses on ATV Safety
Across the country, county and state Farm Bureaus are making safety a priority
through the Agricultural Safety Awareness Program. March 1-7 has been designated
as Agricultural Safety Awareness Week with this year’s theme being “Ride Like a Pro
Whenever You Go.”
During this week and throughout the year, Farm Bureau is encouraging farmers to
emphasize all-terrain vehicle helmet safety. Farmers, as well as their family members
and employees, should make it a habit to always wear a helmet when operating an ATV.
Jim Larson, Montana Ag Safety Program leader, rattles off the sad facts for 2013
regarding ATV fatalities: 21 deaths, with 18 from agriculture and 16 of those working
cows. “We don’t record the injuries, but the industry standard across the country is for
every fatality there are 1,000 injuries,” Larson says.
Montana Farm Bureau testifies in favor of water compact
The Montana Farm Bureau testified in favor of Senate Bill 262 at the Senate
Judiciary Committee meeting early today. T The State has already negotiated and the
legislature approved 17 compacts with six tribes and five federal agencies in Montana.
The bill, carried by Senator Chas Vincent, R-SD1, would ratify a water rights
compact entered into by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes of the Flathead
Reservation, the State of Montana and the U.S. government which would create a
unitary administration and management ordinance to govern waters on the Flathead
Reservation providing exceptions from certain state water laws.
During his testimony, Montana Farm Bureau Executive Vice President John
Youngberg noted, “Montana Farm Bureau policy supports a negotiated compact for
one very big reason; it protects the water rights of farmers and ranchers. If there is
not a negotiated agreement, the tribe is required by state law to file and litigate their
claims for in-stream flow rights on all water as far east as the Milk River, the upper
Musselshell, the Upper Missouri and Upper Yellowstone,” said Youngberg.
Welcome new voting members
Jack Alexander ● Charles Boyer ● Justin Bryhn ● Robert Cotton ● David and
Jewel Davenport ● Shane Doyle ● Tim Dusenberry ● Mitch Foth ● Conni and
Craig French ● Bruce and Doreen Gillespie ● John and Sarah Harding ● Torrey
and Lisa Holland ● Lee and Perri Jacobs ● Dylen Knerr ● Wade and Alison Larsen
● Audrey Lindgren ● Alan McAlpine ● Shawna and Michael McCartney ● Clifford Merriman ● Jay and Sharon Merritt ● Sonny and Lezlie Modic ● Lonnie and
Joan Pawlowski ● Lynn Perry ● Kevin and Susan Poser ● Pete Rising ● Rory and
Kimberly Seidlitz ● Thomas Sunford ● Jim and Mandy Sunford ● Skyler Van
Dyken ● Dean and Debra Vielleux ● Neil and Kristine Wahl ● Tim Wylder and
Luke Holzheimer
MFBF Calendar
June 9-11
MFBF Summer Conference
Sidney
November 8-11
MFBF Convention
Missoula
Working for You
• AFBF Board Meeting
• AFBF Finance Committee meeting
• FBL meeting
• AFBF FUSION Conference
• AFBF Issues Advisory Committee
Conference/Advocacy Conference
• Board of Livestock meeting
• CSKT water compact meetings
• MFBF Convention Committee
• Montana State Fertilizer Advisory
Committee
• MWFBMIC Budget & Investment
Committee
• Big Ditch Meeting
• Gallatin Valley Ag Appreciation Banquet
• MSU Career Fair
• UMW Rodeo Banquet
• Phillips County Farm Bureau inaugural
meeting
• Ag in Montana Schools
In the News
Jennifer Bergin - Promotion and Ecucation Committee/FUSION Conference,
Northern Ag Network/KTVQ
Gretchen Schubert - WLC Meeting/
FUSION Conference, Northern Ag
Network
Mick Mosher, Doug Hall, Gwynn
Simeniuk - YF&R/FUSION, Northern
Ag Network
Sarah Boyer, Turk Stovall, Larry
Switzer, Gary Heibertshausen - AFBF
Advocacy Conference, Northern Ag
Network
Tom DePuydt, Bruce Wright - AFBF
Advocacy Conference, KMON
PERIODICAL
POSTAGE
PAID
Kalispell, MT
502 S. 19th Ave., Suite 104
Bozeman, MT 59718
ISSN: 1555-788X
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation News
Brief is published monthly except for January,
April, July and October by the Montana Farm
Bureau Federation at 502 S. 19th Ave., Suite
104, Bozeman, MT 59718. Subscription rates
are $4 per year, covered by annual dues to
the Montana Farm Bureau Federation. Nonmember subscriptions are $25 per year. Mail at
periodical postage rate in Bozeman, MT and at
additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Montana Farm Bureau Federation News Brief,
502 S. 19th Ave., Suite 104, Bozeman, MT
59718. 406-587-3153.
County Farm Bureaus keep in touch with members
Members of Hill-Liberty-Blaine
County Farm Bureau and Mountain
West agent Jared Vielleux handed out
concession stand coupons at the Chester
Joplin Inverness high school basketball
game Feb 6.
Sweet Grass County Farm Bureau
celebrated Agriculture Appreciation
Week March 16 with a community
breakfast in Big Timber. The officers
and several members of their board of
directors prepared and served breakfast
of pancakes and scrambled eggs with
Jennie Anderson
cooks the bacon
at the Sweet
Grass County
Farm Bureau
Ag Appreciation
Breakfast.
sausage and bacon provided by Brian
Engle at Pioneer Meats.
Cascade, Southwest and Rosebud/
Treasure County Farm Bureaus held
meetings in late February and March.
Members of the Ravalli and Northwest Counties Farm Bureaus attended
the MFBF Convention planning meeting
March 10 in Missoula.
Phillips County Farm Bureau held
its first official meeting March 2 at the
Great Northern Hall in Malta. More
than 35 people showed up including
Representative Mike Lang who took
time to attend and update members
on what was happening in the Montana Legislature. Elected to the board
were Tom DePuydt, president; Mandy
Sunford, vice president; Terri Robin-
Rep. Mike Lang, R-HD 35, shares information at the
first-ever Phillips County Farm Bureau meeting.
son, secretary/treasurer; Joy DePuydt,
Women’s Leadership Committee chair;
Wendy White, YF&R Chair. The Board
of Directors includes Bill Rock, Pat
Anderson and Craig French.
“We look forward to seeing everyone get active in this new county organization in our area,” said DePuydt.