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Mid-Rivers Communications recently announced the award of 31 Scholarships to students from the Cooperative’s service area. Six $1,500 scholarships were awarded to students planning to attend Dawson Community College or Miles Community College, and 25 $1,000 scholarships were awarded to students planning to attend a four-year college or university, community college or tech school in the fall of 2021. Preference was given in the scholarship award selection process to students who plan to live and work in Eastern and Central M...
The Montana Department of Agriculture is reminding producers to participate in the upcoming Wheat and Barley Varieties Survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). “This year’s varieties survey will give our breeding program unique and widespread insight into the characteristics that are truly important to Montana farmers,” said Cassidy Marn, Executive Vice President of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee. “With producer checkoff dollars h...
On Monday, May 10, 2021, member leaders of American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Farmers Union, R-CALF USA, and the United States Cattlemen’s Association met in Phoenix, Arizona. These groups convened at the request of Livestock Marketing Association to discuss challenges involved in the marketing of finished cattle with the ultimate goal of bringing about a more financially sustainable situation for cattle feeders and cow-calf producers. “I feel honored to have been asked to represe...
On Tuesday, Governor Greg Gianforte signed into law the ConnectMT Act, providing $275 million in federal funds to expand access to reliable broadband across Montana. "Too many of our communities, particularly in rural and frontier Montana, don't have access to reliable broadband," Gov. Gianforte said in Hamilton. "Greater access to broadband will increase opportunities for Montanans, whether in ag or high-tech or other Montana industries, but we need to get more cable in the...
Going to work, punching the time clock, and putting in your 8 hours has shifted to staying home, learning Zoom, and mastering communication from your home. Remote working was gaining popularity with companies across the United States prior to the pandemic, COVID-19 impacted the country to a degree that remote work became the norm. As COVID-19 hit the United States, companies had to start finding creative ways to get the job done. The lockdown taught us that for some jobs working remotely was the answer to keep the company...
Migration of young adults out of rural communities for college or jobs in larger communities is shown in the U.S. Census data. In contrast, the Census also reflects a trend of in-migration of people aged 30-49 to rural counties. A new survey launching in late April by Montana State University and MSU Extension will gather data about who is moving into Montana communities, where they are coming from and why they are moving. New community residents in their 30’s and 40’s have been called the “Brain Gain” by Ben Winches...
Montana will regain its second congressional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the 2020 Census state population count released on Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The count reveals that Montana’s population grew from 989,415 people in 2010 to 1,085,407 people in 2020 – an increase of 95,992 residents over 2010, or nearly 10 percent. “Thanks to the efforts of Montanans across the state, the 2020 Census shows what we’ve known to be true – Montana is a great place to live, work, and raise a family,...
On Monday, the Office of the Governor released the 2021 Montana Water and Supply Drought Outlook Report. According to data in the report, 42 percent of the state is classified as abnormally dry, with another 18 percent of the state in severe to extreme drought conditions. May and June are historically the two wettest months of the year in Montana. “Following an unusually mild winter, the conditions we see for the next eight to ten weeks are going to be critical as we head into growing season in Montana,” Gov. Gianforte sai...
Gov. Greg Gianforte has officially ended the state's long-standing practice of allowing citizens to register to vote on Election Day, a change he said will help preserve the integrity of Montana's elections, but that critics have decried as a blatant attack on voter rights. Under House Bill 176, which Gianforte signed into law Monday, Montana voters will now be required to register no later than noon on the day before an election. Gianforte also signed Senate Bill 169,...
The Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act of 2021 was reintroduced in the Senate by Senators Fischer (R-NE), Tester (D-MT), Wicker (R-MS), and Smith (D-MN) last month and more recently as a companion bill in the House by Tennessee Republican John Rose and Democrat Darren Soto of Florida. The bill would provide needed flexibilities for agricultural and livestock haulers. The HAULS Act includes three provisions: • Ensures the ag and livestock hours-of-service (HOS) exemptions apply year-round by striking t...
On Tuesday, Governor Greg Gianforte announced a settlement agreement that ends litigation between the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and United Property Owners of Montana (UPOM). “Under the previous administration, FWP didn’t do right by farmers, ranchers, and private property owners. In its effort to spread bison across parts of Montana, FWP didn’t do enough to account for the impacts to local communities and relied on outdated data,” Gov. Gianforte said. “This settlement agreement protects our livestock...
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted 988 as a new three-digit number to be used nationwide to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, starting July 16, 2022. Until then, customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK to reach the Lifeline. For 988 to work properly in the (406) area code, and in several other area codes and states around the country, 10-digit local dialing needs to be implemented. What is Changing? All telephone customers may begin dialing 10 digits (area...
This week, Governor Greg Gianforte issued an executive order prohibiting the state-sponsored development and required use of so-called vaccine passports in Montana. “I strongly encourage Montanans to get a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine, which is our best path to protect our family and friends and get back to a more normal life,” Governor Gianforte said. “Receiving one is entirely voluntary and will not be mandated by the State of Montana, nor compelled through vaccine passports, vaccine passes, or other compulsory means. W...
Last week Governor Greg Gianforte issued a directive to reduce barriers to vaccine administration in pharmacies across Montana. “As we expand vaccine eligibility to all Montanans on April 1, we’re focused on reducing barriers Montanans face to get the vaccine and increasing access to it,” Governor Gianforte said. “To that end, the directive I issued today will make it easier for pharmacies to efficiently administer doses to more Montanans.” The directive authorizes pharmacists to use any health care provider, who is licens...
Applications for the State Hail Insurance Program are now available through the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA). Producers can insure crops against hail damage at the maximum coverage rate of $75 per acre for dryland and $114 per acre for irrigated land. Rates charged are a percentage of the insured amount and vary by county. A detailed list of rates by county and crop can be found online by visiting the MDA website. State policies are available for purchase until August 15, 2021. Producers who previously purchased...
Eastern Montana and western South Dakota continue experiencing low humidity, high wind and warmer than usual temperatures resulting in widespread drought conditions and an increase in the risk of wildland fire. Hunters, recreationists, and others visiting public lands are asked to be extremely careful and take precautions to not start a wildland fire. South Dakota is abnormally dry and almost 80% of the state is in moderate to high drought conditions. On March 30, 2021 Governor Kristi Noem declared a state of emergency for...
As of Tuesday, March 30, the state reports that 476,912 doses of vaccine have been administered in Montana, and 186,542 Montanans have been fully immunized. The state has reported a cumulative total of 104,321 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 157 new cases since yesterday, 898 active cases, and 101,986 people considered recovered. State officials also report that 4,780 of the cases have resulted in hospitalizations, with 46 patients currently hospitalized. There have been...
The Montana House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 279 by House Education Committee Chairman Seth Berglee (R-Joliet) by a vote of 64-36. House Bill 279 increases the Montana Tax Credit Scholarship Program for private programs from a $150 maximum tax credit to $200,000 with a $3 million annual cap. The bill also expands the Innovative Educational Program for public schools by the same amount. “By expanding Montana’s tax credit scholarship programs, more families will be able to access educational services tha...
March 29, 2021 - A 44-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Sidney is slated to close at the end of the month as part of Montana-Dakota Utilities' pivot away from coal. In addition to closing the Lewis & Clark Station in Sidney this week, the company is planning to retire two coal plants in Mandan, North Dakota, next March. "Low-cost power available on the market, due to low-cost natural gas and increasing resources, as well as rising costs to operate these facilities, led to...
On Tuesday, National Ag Day, the Montana Stockgrowers Association hosted Taiwan's Director General Daniel Kuo-ching Chen and Vice Consul Ting K.T. Chen for talks surrounding trade opportunities for Montana beef producers. Taiwan is currently one of Montana's top five trade partners, mostly for agricultural products. "With Taiwan's import of Montana beef growing and the opportunity to have a more direct trade relationship, we are very hopeful there will be more Montana beef...
(Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series about the recent legalization of marijuana in Montana.) With new marijuana laws coming into effect in the state after the passage of Ballot Initiative 190, there is a different bar to meet before marijuana activity crosses into illegal territory; it can still happen, but what happens to those people who have previously been arrested and convicted for activities that are now legal? Under Section 36 of I-190, those with prior...
At a news conference on Tuesday, Governor Greg Gianforte announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be available to all Montanans beginning April 1, 2021. "A few months ago, projections estimated Montanans 16 and older would be eligible for the vaccine as late as mid-July. Today, I'm pleased to announce that we're moving up that timeline. All Montanans 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on April 1st," Gianforte said. Gianforte encouraged Montanans to get a...
(Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series about the recent legalization of marijuana in Montana.) With recreational marijuana use now legal, the regulations on its use make it much more comparable to alcohol. Every adult over 21 is welcome to use the formally prohibited substances but there are limitations to the freedom. It will, for example, remain illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana. There are also likely limitations to the leeway one can take when it...
The BLM would like to encourage surface owners to properly verify their ownership of mineral rights before excavating sand, gravel, stone, or scoria on their property. Surprisingly, these materials may or may not belong to the surface owner. Millions of acres of private land in the Montana/Dakotas region involve a split estate; where the surface ownership is private, but the mineral rights are retained by the federal government or other entities. Surface owners need to be aware that previous court cases may have resulted in c...
(Editor's note: This is the third in a series about the recent legalization of marijuana in Montana.) Medical marijuana has been legal in Montana since 2004, giving anyone with a doctor's prescription access to the federally banned substance since then. There were 41,638 medical marijuana cardholders in the state as of December 2020, according to information from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services. With the passage of I-190 in November's election,...
