Celebrating Leadership: Montana Farm Bureau ACE Graduates 2024

November 18, 2024 - The Montana Farm Bureau Federation celebrated the Class of 2024 graduates of their ACE (Advocate. Communicate. Educate) Leadership Program.

Stabenow Releases Last Minute Farm Bill

November 18, 2024 - Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., on Monday released the text of the farm bill she hopes can get through Congress before the end of the year and pus...

Farm Progress Announces Return of Clint Peck to BEEF

Farm Progress and BEEF are excited to announce that after a 14-year hiatus, Clint Peck returns to BEEF, focusing on global markets, beef demand and production expertise. His journalism career began as...

Illinois Farm Bureau Ousted by AFBF

The Illinois Farm Bureau sued the American Farm Bureau Federation on Wednesday after the national group voted to oust the Illinois chapter and its 70,000 farmer members. The lawsuit seeks to halt the...

Lion hunting opponents focus on upcoming CPW Commission in Lamar

Despite the significant loss at the ballot box and previous efforts at the State Legislature and CPW Commission, proponents of the measure to ban lion hunting have pivoted their focus back to the CPW...

Agriculture Advocate Thune to Lead Senate GOP

November 13, 2024 - In the agricultural sector, Thune has been a steadfast advocate for farmers and ranchers, particularly in his home state of South Dakota.

Trump Picks Former NY Rep. Zeldin to Head EPA

Lee Zeldin has been selected as the next administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday. Zeldin is a former Republican congressman from New...

Interior Department Proposes Strengthened Protections for Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat

The Department of the Interior announced today that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published proposed updates to strengthen conservation and management of greater sage-grouse habitat on publi...

IRS Extends Relief to Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by Drought

The Internal Revenue Service today issued guidance providing tax relief for farmers and ranchers in applicable regions forced to sell or exchange livestock because of drought conditions. The tax relie...

Slaughterhouse, Fur, Lion Hunting Bans All Rejected by Colorado Voters

The management of big cats will remain in the hands of the wildlife biologists at Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The proposed mountain lion and bobcat hunting ban passed in only six counties —Arapahoe,...

U.S. Ag Organizations Congratulate President-Elect Trump

U.S. agriculture organizations are congratulating President-Elect Donald Trump after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday's Election.

National Wheat Yield Contest 2024 Winners

The National Wheat Yield Contest has announced the 26 national and 94 state winners for 2024-the ninth year of the contest. This year’s contest had 516 entries, the most ever. “The new website, along...

USDA Implementing Bulk Milk Testing to Curb Spread of H5N1 in Dairy Herds

USDA is planning to test raw bulk milk nationally for the H5N1 bird flu virus because of the growing number of cases during the past month in California dairy herds and the finding of a different stra...

Matsushima's story bound for classrooms in expanded program

Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom will be bringing the story of Dr. John Matsushima to classrooms this spring. Written by Western Ag Network's Rachel Gabel and illustrated by Liz Banman Munstertei...

Excitement Grows for 2024 Montana Ag-Tech Innovation & Investment Summit in Bozeman

October 30, 2024 - The 2024 Montana Ag-Tech Innovation & Investment Summit is set to take place on November 6, drawing together a dynamic blend of agriculture, technology, and investment leaders to Mo...

Cattlewomen Wrap First Round of Filming Pasture Gate to Dinner Plate Video

The Logan County (Colorado) Cattlewomen have presented their Steve the Steer beef byproducts lesson and their Flat Rancher program in schools across the region to supplement agriculture education in e...

All Eggs Sold In Colorado Starting in 2025 Will Be Cage Free

Starting January 1, 2025, all eggs sold in Colorado must be from a cage-free facility. All egg producers in Colorado housing more than 3,000 egg-laying hens will need to comply with the requirements o...

Still Time for to Enroll in Climate-Smart Grant Producer Program

The American Lamb Board (ALB) has received a USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Grant to measure the benefits of targeted sheep grazing on carbon sequestration, soil health, and related ecosystem services...

McDonald's Sliced Onions Suspected in E. Coli cases

An E. Coli outbreak in Colorado and Nebraska is being tied to McDonald’s, and some menu items have been removed temporarily while an investigation takes place.

NCBA Slams Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Recommendations

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) slammed the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s unhinged recommendations that propose replacing high-quality proteins like beef with beans,...

Conservation Reserve Program Acreage is Highest in a Decade

Total acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is now the highest level in a decade as the program evolves and focuses more on grazing acres than at any time in its history. Checks f...

BLM Seeks Nominations for Public Lands Rule Advisory Committee

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations for a new Federal advisory committee that will help inform how the Bureau implements the Public Lands Rule. The Committee will advise on outreach a...

Thousands of Farmers Could Unknowingly Face Federal Fines or Jail Time

Time is running out for thousands of farmers who may face steep fines and possible jail time for failing to file their businesses with the federal government. Jan. 1, 2025, is the deadline to file Ben...

Colorado FFA adds auctioneering CDE contest, camp

Colorado FFA students may now add auctioneering to their Career Development Event lineup. The Colorado FFA Auctioneering CDE Camp and Contest at the National Western Meat and Greet in Denver on Nov. 1...

Angus Tour Highlights Montana’s Global Genetic Impact

Last month, the 50th annual Montana Angus Tour drew over 400 attendees to central Montana, including a notable delegation of 37 participants from Austria, Finland, Estonia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. West...

Bioceres Affirms Commitment to U.S. Biotechnology Commercialization Principles

October 10, 2024 - In its public statement following USDA’s deregulation of the HB4® drought-tolerance trait from Bioceres Crop Science on Aug. 29, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) noted that it would cont...

NRCS Sets Conservation Program Funding Application Dates

October 10, 2024 - The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Reg...

NCGA President Calls for Action During Meeting at White House

October 9, 2024 - National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Kenneth Hartman Jr. today told Biden administration officials that farmers are living through difficult economic times, but the adm...

McDonald's Files Lawsuit Accusing Beef Giants of Price Manipulation

October 9, 2024 - McDonald's alleges Cargill, JBS, Tyson Foods and other companies conspired to fix beef prices by limiting supplies starting in January 2015, in a new lawsuit filed in a federal court...

Cattle Producers Slam Biden-Harris Administration for Holding “Pep Rally” as Producers Face Hurricane and Fire Damages

October 8, 2024- White House Organizes a “Pep Rally” While Producers Face Hurricanes and Fire Damages.

Let ASI Know About Your Shearing School

October 7, 2024 - The American Sheep Industry Association is excited about upcoming shearing schools that will take place this fall and in the spring of 2025. The schools provide an important opportun...

The Big Reveal on Montana Wheat and Barley Variety Surveys

October 4, 2024 - Every year, the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC) funds the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Montana wheat and barley variety surveys. The 2024 report released i...

Survey on Wolf Depredation Compensation

October 2, 2024 - Oregon State University’s (OSU) Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences is seeking input from livestock producers to understand their perspectives on wolf-livesto...

Montana Farmers Union President Calls Out Congress for Lack of Responsibility to American Farmers

October 1, 2024 - Congress has unnecessarily left farmers in limbo as they wait for either a reauthorization or yet another extension of the Farm Bill, Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitze...

USDA Releases Small Grains Summary

October 1, 2024 - All wheat production totaled 1.971 billion bushels in 2024, up from the 2023 total of 1.811 bb. All wheat yield came in at 51.2 bushels per acre, up from 48.7 bushels from 2023.

Tractor Tuesday Boosts Collegiate Athletes from Ag

Under the NIL rule, athletes can be essentially paid by companies wishing to use their name, image, and likeness. Zach Bosle at Farm Athletes is a former collegiate athlete and was a walk on, as many...

Public Lands Council is Invaluable to Ranchers

September 23, 2024 - Since 1968, the Public Lands Council has actively represented the cattle and sheep producers who hold public lands grazing permits. During the PLC's annual meeting in Grand Juncti...

BLM Announces Winners of the 2024 Rangeland Stewardship and Innovations Awards

September 19, 2024 - This week during the PLC Annual Meeting in Grand Junction, Colo., the Bureau of Land Management announced the winners of the 2024 Rangeland Stewardship and Rangeland Innovations a...

Public Lands Council Advocating for Western Ranchers

September 18, 2024 - The Public Lands Council Annual Meeting is underway in Grand Junction, Colo. This week, ranchers from across the West who utilize America's public lands for grazing are discussing...

Farmers Hope for Interest Rate Relief as Operating Loan Demand Climbs

September 17, 2024 - The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates for the first time since its inflation battle began in 2022, but what's uncertain is the size of the cut, whether it's...

New Lawsuit by Environmentalists Targets Malathion

September 16, 2024 - A final biological opinion that led to national restrictions on the pesticide malathion is the target of a new lawsuit filed this week that alleges the decision by the U.S. Fish a...

Ranchers ask feds to manage Colorado wolves, another wolf dead

“It is very evident that Gov. Polis is at the helm of all decisions regarding wolf management. Recent comments by the first gentleman on his Facebook reinforce what is already known, that management d...

Nebraska's Blackshirt Feeders poised to be most environmentally friendly in world

“I had just returned home from Kazakhstan and was planting corn when the idea for Blackshirt Feeders was hatched,” he said. “I had just gotten back from a trip all around the world and was literally i...

Harris and Trump Outline Agricultural Priorities In Farm Bureau Survey

September 13, 2024 - Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump revealed their priorities for American agriculture in responses provided by their campaigns to a questionnaire distr...

99th Montana Ram and 11th Montana Ewe Sale Results

September 12, 2024 - On September 11 and 12, Miles City hosted the Montana Ram and Ewe Sales at the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds. The offering included over 400 commercial ewes, and 257 rams from consi...

Cattle Sale with a Cause: Supporting Duchenne Research

September 12, 2024 - On September 19, 2024 the Heaton family will be hosting their annual Calves to cure DMD cattle sale at Billings Livestock Commission to raise funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystroph...

Safeguarding American Soil

September 12, 2024 - Legislation seeks to tighten oversight on foreign attempts to purchase U.S. farmland, specifically targeting countries like China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.

Montana Rancher Promotes U.S. Beef on Trade Mission to Japan

September 11, 2024 - Potomac, Montana rancher Justin Iverson is currently in Japan on a beef trade mission with the U.S. Meat Export Federation, representing the Montana Beef Council.

National Farmers Union and USDA Announce Agreement to Strengthen FSA County-Level Operations

September 9, 2024 - National Farmers Union (NFU) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address staffing levels and improve customer service...

South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson Requests Briefing on Chinese Drones

September 9, 2024 - U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and twelve members of Congress asked the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security...

Up to $7,000 Available for Sheep Producers Selected for Climate-Smart Grant

September 5, 2024 - The American Lamb Board received a USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Grant to quantify the impacts of targeted sheep grazing. The program is designed to measure and report carbon sequ...

The Producer Partnership Helping Remington Wildfire Victims

September 5, 2024 - The Producer Partnership would like to help the counties affected by the devastation the Remington fire has caused by picking up animals from ranchers that have been injured from t...

Checkerboard, Montana Hosts America's Smallest Labor Day Parade

September 4, 2024 - For over 30 years, the small community of Checkerboard, Mont. has held America's smallest parade as part of it's annual Labor Day weekend celebration. And this year's turnout of pa...

Wyoming Confirms Anthrax in Carbon County Cattle

September 4, 2024 - Anthrax has been confirmed in multiple beef herds located in Carbon County, Wyoming. This is the first confirmed anthrax in Wyoming cattle since the 1970s.

The Cattlemen's Wife: A Tribute to Babe Goggins

September 3, 2024 - A new documentary, "The Cattlemen’s Wife" recently debuted. The story centered around the life and legacy of Babe Goggins, wife of the late Pat Goggins, offers a unique glimpse int...

Kendra Santos Chronicles Heartbreaking Tragedy at Beutler Ranch

September 1, 2024 - Journalist Kendra Santos has reported on a devastating tragedy at the Beutler Ranch in Elk City, Oklahoma, where nearly 70 horses have died due to a catastrophic feed contamination...

DEKALB Partners with the Field of Dreams Movie Site

August 30, 2024 - DEKALB is proud to announce its new partnership as the official corn seed for the Field of Dreams movie site in Iowa. DEKALB corn surrounds the filming site of the iconic 1989 Field...

USDA Launches Online Debt Consolidation Tool

August 30, 2024 - The USDA is announcing the launch of the Debt Consolidation Tool, an innovative online tool available through farmers.gov that allows agricultural producers to enter their farm opera...

Auctioneer Randy Searer’s Battle for a New Liver: A Journey of Strength and Hope

August 28, 2024 - Auctioneer Randy Searer, diagnosed with end-stage liver failure in April 2024, has been placed on the liver transplant list after a series of medical tests and treatments. Despite th...

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Capturing and Relocating Depredating Wolf Pack

August 27, 2024 - Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced late last night that they will be rounding up the mating pair and three pups that make up the Copper Creek Pack. CPW said the capture and reloca...

U.S. Wheat Industry Applauds USDA Approval of Drought Tolerant Wheat Trait

August 28, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it plans to deregulate the HB4 drought-tolerant trait from Bioceres Crop Solutions. Access to drought-tolerant wheat like...

Wildfire Relief Fund: MT Stockgrowers Foundation Launches Donation Hub

August 27, 2024 - The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is seeking donations for its Wildfire Relief Fund to aid Montana livestock producers impacted by the devastating Remington Fire in southeast...

Western Ag Network Excited for New Television Partnership with Cowles Media

August 26, 2024 - Western Ag Network’s Russell Nemetz and Lane Nordlund are thrilled to announce they’ve accepted an invitation from Cowles Media to provide ag news on Wake Up Montana NonStop Local. B...

New Strategic Investment Program for Young Pork Advocates

August 26, 2024 - The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) unveiled a new Strategic Investment Program, “Young Pork Advocates,” for young individuals ages 18-22. This initiative expands on NPPC’s St...

Canadian Government Orders Railways Back to Work

August 26, 2024 - After a tumultuous week of rail worker stoppage between the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Canadian National (CN) railways, t...

Wyoming Gov. Gordon Unhappy with BLMs Proposed Rock Springs Resource Management Plan

The plan outlines how the BLM will manage 3.6 million acres of federal land in southwest Wyoming. Gov. Mark Gordon said the FEIS for the proposed Rock Springs RMP does not meet Wyoming’s expectations...

Canadian Rail Shutdown: Agricultural Trade and Rail Transportation at Risk

August 22, 2024 - The agricultural sector and several key industries are grappling with significant disruptions following a rail shutdown that occurred in the early morning of August 22, 2024, in Cana...

USDA Accepts More Than 2.2 Million Acres Through 2024 Grassland, General, and Continuous CRP Offers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for more than 2.2 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Grassland, General, and Continuous...

Utah Files Landmark Lawsuit Challenging Federal Control Over Most BLM Land

August 20, 2024 - After decades of legal analysis, Utah has filed a landmark public lands lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to address whether the federal government can simply hold unappropriated...

Anti-meat billboard in Casper ruffling feathers

A billboard in Casper, Wyoming, is ruffling feathers in the state’s agriculture industry, especially when it comes to spreading incorrect information. The billboard with an angry chicken grasping an A...

North Dakota Senator John Hoeven Organizes Field Hearing to Discuss Future of Ag Tech Development

August 15, 2024 - The discussion included U.S. Senators, leaders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and producers, industry representatives and agriculture researchers.

CSU Researchers Earn USDA Funding to Develop Weed Herbicide for Palmer Amaranth

August 15, 2024 - Colorado State University researchers are developing a novel biological herbicide that would specifically target Palmer amaranth – one of the most challenging weeds for agricultural...

Montana State University Program Looks at Domestic Wool Manufacturing

August 13, 2024 - In conjunction with the Montana Ram & Ewe Sale – Sept. 11-12 in Miles City, Mont. – Montana State University will offer a program entitled Opportunities and Challenges for U.S. Grown...

Scientists Developed a Unique Approach to Conserve the Monarch Butterfly

August 13, 2024 - USDA scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Weed and Insect Biology Research Unit, in Fargo, North Dakota, have developed the first known cryopreservation protocol for...

MSU President Cruzado Announces Retirement

August 12, 2024 - Cruzado, a strong advocate for the Land Grant University System, agriculture and the people of Montana shared in a letter she will retire June 30, 2025

ASI Executive Board Conducts Summer Meeting in South Dakota

August 9, 2024 - The American Sheep Industry Association Executive Board met this week in Deadwood, S.D., for its annual summer meeting. The focus of the meeting each year is to set a budget for the c...

NCBA's Lane: Maude Indictments Inspire Anger from Caputa to Capitol Hill

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack, S.D. Senator Mike Rounds called the indictments for theft of government property served – by USFS Special Agent Travis Lunders while unannounced,...

Sweetener Users and Sugar Producers Join in Support of Strengthened Sugar Policy

August 8, 2024 - Sugar is a vital ingredient in our national food supply, and U.S. farmers, workers, and food manufacturers support the sugar policy provisions in the bipartisan Farm, Food, and Nation...

Beef Export Value Climbs in June

August 8, 2024 - Beef exports totaled 110,155 metric tons (mt) in June, down 4% from a year ago but the second largest of 2024. Export value reached $938.3 million, up 3% year-over-year and the highes...

NRCS Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Invests $22 Million in 29 Projects in 36 States

August 6, 2024 - The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) empowers partners to increase availability of grazing land technical assistance for livestock producers, including historically unders...

FFA Reaches Record-Breaking 1 Million Members

August 5, 2024 - National FFA Organization, a nationally-recognized school-based student leadership development organization, announced today that it reached a record-breaking milestone of having more...

U.S. Ag Land Values Up 5%

August 5, 2024 - USDA said the value of all farm real estate increased 5% from 2023, averaging $4,170 per acre. This estimate includes buildings and other facilities.

FFA Gets Microsoft Grant to Expand Precision Ag Education

August 1, 2024 - Dozens of FFA chapters around the United States are getting a new classroom resource for the 2024-25 school year as part of a Microsoft grant. The grant will help FFA members and advi...

U.S. Cattlemen’s Association Supports Resolution to Block Mandatory EID

August 1, 2024 - The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) announced their support of Representative Harriet Hageman’s (R-WY) joint resolution to block the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Se...

Tribes rescind agreement to provide source wolves to Colorado

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation say they won’t be sending 15 wolves from their reservation in Washington to Colorado in late 2024. In a June 6 letter to CPW Director Jeff Davis, th...

Calf Prices: Superior Livestock’s Video Royale Sale

July 30, 2024 - This week Superior Livestock Auction is holding its 2024 Video Royale Sale in Winnemucca, NV. Taking place July 29 – August 1, there are over 190,000 head of cattle being offered.

National Beef Settles Wage-Fixing Case

July 30, 2024 - National Beef Packing Company is the latest food company to announce a settlement in an ongoing wage-fixing lawsuit, according to a notice filed in federal court Monday.

What Practices Pay Off at the Auction Block?

July 29, 2024 - As cattle producers sit in auction barns or on the video and watch their calves sell, they often wonder why their calves don’t sell for more. What makes buyers pay more for some calves...

Public Lands Council Launches #SageGrouseSummer

July 29, 2024 - The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness, promote, and educate the public about the positive impact of cattle grazing on sage grouse populations through engaging and informative...

Clean Water Act Case Against Simplot Allowed To Proceed

July 29, 2024 - According to the Western Livestock Journal, a lawsuit challenging one of the biggest feedlot companies in the world and its waste discharges will continue after a court ruled against t...

Denver slaughterhouse ban "closes door to generational prosperity"

Martin said Colorado agriculture plays a role outside of the state and globally, and so as scientists, the CSU team that compiled the study felt it was important to speak up in the absence of informat...

Real Beef Triumphs: Lab-Grown Protein Off Military Menus

July 24, 2024 - The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will not pursue lab-grown protein projects for human consumption in the military, e...

Yearlings and Calves Fetch Top Prices at NLVA Summertime Classic Sale

July 24, 2024 - The Northern Livestock Video Auction's (NLVA) Summertime Classic sale offering 189,000 head of feeder cattle this week. The event, held on July 22, 23, 24 & 25, witnessed robust demand...

Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Hay Scam

July 23, 2024 - A Kansas man admitted to a fraud charge last week of devising a scheme to steal from Montana and Wyoming ranchers who were seeking to buy hay to feed their livestock during the drought...

Decision on Mexico-U.S. Corn Dispute Expected This Fall

July 23, 2024 - The U.S. has made a strong case in the dispute with Mexico over genetically engineered corn under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a top official in the Biden administration...

Working to Reduce Obstacles for Red Meat Exports to Canada

July 23, 2024 - Canada is a top five destination for both U.S. beef and pork exports, but shipments are sometimes slowed by regulatory issues. The recent transition to the Public Health Information Sy...

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Comments on President Biden Dropping Out of Presidential Race

July 22, 2024 - "In the 38 years that I have known President Biden, he has consistently and selflessly put our country first—and today is no exception," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "As a r...

Cargill Invests $1 Million in Research on Methane Reduction in Cattle

July 22, 2024 - In an effort to help fund research studying sustainable animal agriculture practices and reducing the environmental impact of the beef industry, Cargill has issued a $1 million grant t...

July 1 Cattle on Feed Up 1% From Year Ago

July 19, 2024 - Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.3 million head on July 1, 2024. The inventory was 1%...

A Strong Bond: Gage and Lambo

When Gage Graves, who is now 11 years old, moved with his family to the Yoder, Colo., area they were all hoping to build upon his existing love of horses with more animals that would be made possible...