Working for You

Each month we provide some key areas where MGGA leaders and staff have been working on your behalf. Here is a sampling of important issues and activities for March 2019:

• MGGA was active at the Montana legislature throughout the month testifying on several bills of importance to grain producer members including in support of SB 317 to create a wintertime 10% overweight permit and a durational 10% overweight; and in opposition to HB 31 which would impose a statewide mandatory fire-preparedness assessment fee and HB 650 which would increase the excise tax on beer.
• MGGA worked with Senator Tester’s staff on a letter to USDA-FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce encouraging timely implementation of the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) – County subdivided pilot program as outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill.
• MGGA Executive Vice President Lola Raska spoke about new provisions in the 2018 farm bill with growers at meetings in Denton and Lewistown.
• Raska participated in a meeting of the NRCS State Technical Advisory Committee in Great Falls where agency officials reported on their new Montana Focused Conservation Targeted Implementation Plan. The program’s overall goal is to focus NRCS conservation investments in targeted areas to achieve clearly defined natural resource objectives on a broader landscape as identified by local landowners and partners through a locally led process.
• MGGA staff manned a booth, visited with legislators and sponsored an all-Montana meal during the Ag Appreciation Legislative Luncheon in the capitol rotunda in Helena in celebration of National Ag Week.
• The Montana Gains Foundation Board of Directors met in Bozeman with MSU President Dr. Waded Cruzado and VP of Agriculture Sreekala Bajwa.