The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $420 million in 132 infrastructure projects in 31 states, including $330,000 in six projects in Montana. Northern News Network’s Eric Young has details.
Gov. Gianforte Invites Sec. Vilsack Ahead Of Wildfire Season
Governor Greg Gianforte has invited U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Montana to develop a plan to address the state’s wildland fire risk and forest health issues. According to the governor this could build off the adjustments to forest management already made.
Montana Can Now Ship Meat Products Out Of State
Montana has finalized a Cooperative Interstate Shipment agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. Montana is only the tenth state in the nation where state-inspected meat and poultry processors can ship their products across state lines. The Montana Department of Livestock has been working with USD...
Montana Looking Ahead To Upcoming Wildfire Season
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Forest Service recently announced a new 10-year plan to address what they are deeming a wildfire crisis through tree removal and prescribed burning. After last year’s wildfire season Governor Greg Gianforte says the state is already taking steps to improve Montana’s management efforts but is open to even ...
Montana Receives Funding For Healthier Food Programs
The state will receive $3,639,90.00 from U.S. Department of Agriculture in funding for school districts to purchase unprocessed and minimally processed domestic food such as fresh fruit, milk, cheese, frozen vegetables and ground meat to help overcome school nutrition supply chain challenges. This adds to the flexibilities the Superintendent o...
2021 Reported As The 4th Driest Year In Montana History
Montana is in one of the worst droughts in Montana history. As of December 15th, every county in the Treasure State was identified as experiencing some level of drought. A third of the state is in the grips of a “D4” or “exceptional” drought a designation the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects to occur in any one lo...
Impact Statement Released For Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service recently released the revised Helena–Lewis and Clark National Forest Land Management Plan and final environmental impact statement. The 2.9-million-acre forest is expected to drive management for the next 15 years. The plan recommends protections for 45 rivers or streams as wild and scenic wh...
All Counties Now Qualify For Drought Assistance
In late July over 40 senators and members of Congress pushed the U.S. Department of Agriculture 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. Wednesday afternoon, Senator Steve Daines announced the USDA h...
Drought Disaster Declared In 31 Counties
The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared a drought disaster in 15 additional Montana counties Tuesday, bringing the number of counties in a declared disaster to 31 of Montana’s 56 counties. The declaration makes farms in the affected area eligible for emergency loans and other federal assistance. It comes after Governor Greg Gianforte...
Tester’s Meat Packing Investigator Act Gains Support From Ag Secretary
Tuesday, Senator Jon Tester secured support from the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for his bipartisan Meat Packing Special Investigator Act which will create an Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters in the Department of Agriculture to investigate anti-competitive actions by meat packers and secure America’s food sec...