Do you qualify for a Paycheck Protection Loan for your farm or ranch? In this Wipfli Spotlight on Agriculture Podcast, Dustin Wiesner and Ryan Tangedal provide insight on the first and second draw of PPP and how ag producers can apply for loans and loan forgiveness. They also give insight on the Employee Retention Credit and items you can utilize to prepare for the first couple of quarters of 2021.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester discusses quality losses assistance for farmers, Keystone XL Pipeline, H2A Farm Labor issues and increasing broadband access for rural America.
Farmers, ranchers and agribusiness are still trying to wrap their minds around COVID relief programs. From the Paycheck Protection Program enrollment and forgiveness process, CFAP payments to producers and more. It can be hard to grasp. In this Wipfli Spotlight on Agriculture Podcast Brad Cook walks us through how Wipfli is a resource for all of agriculture.
Mitch Konen, Montana Grain Growers President, discusses grain prices, looking ahead to 2021, Dietary Guidelines and more.
Understanding the latest COVID-19 relief funds for ranchers, release of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines and advocacy are the talking points with guest Ethan Lane with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Colorado Rancher Hugh Sanburg, Vice Chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, discusses the Beef Checkoff and more.
The Montana World Trade Center on December 3, 2020, will host the Montana – Israel Virtual Trade Forum. The event will highlight the opportunities to grow trade between Montana and Israel and will focus on the agricultural and ag-tech industries. The MWTC’s Abby Majerus shares more on the virtual event. https://www.mwtc.org/
The American Sheep Industry Association's President Benny Cox of Texas and Exec. Dir. Peter Orwick discuss the challenges and opportunities the sheep industry faced in 2020.
What is the status of U.S. beef exports to Asia? Joel Haggard senior vice president for the Asia Pacific with U.S. Meat Export Federation gives his insight. Based in Hong Kong, Haggard oversees USMEF marketing and market access activities for all Asian markets and Oceania, and can address questions specific to key markets such as China/Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Raised on the family farm near Polson, MT, Alison Vergeront has deep roots in agriculture. She has served as agricultural liaison and field representative for U.S. Senator Steve Daines for the past six years. Starting Jan. 1, 2021 she will begin a new career as the Montana Grain Growers Association’s new executive vice president.
Montana Farmers Union and its partners are purchasing a mobile meat harvest unit. The mobile processing facility will become part of the first of its kind meat processing curriculum in the country that teaches meat processing from harvest to retail at Montana State University-Northern in Havre, MT. The mission of the collaboration is to produce more local food.
A report by the Montana Natural Resource Coalition addresses a request by the American Prairie Reserve to convert BLM grazing leases from traditional livestock production to indigenous animal or bison uses. MTNRC President and Fergus County Commission Ross Butcher shares more on what the grassroots report is about.
The Department of the Interior has removed the gray wolf from the endangered species list, signaling a successful recovery under the Endangered Species Act. The Public Lands Councils Exec. Dir. Kaitlynn Glover discusses how states and tribal governments will now take over the management of gray wolves. She also shares how the delisting is a win for livestock producers, sportsmen, conservationists, states in a full recovery of the species.
The first female from Montana to become a Natl' FFA Officer, Mamie Hertel discusses her year of service in the time of COVID-19.
Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Aurelia Skipwith discusses grizzly bear management in Montana and surrounding states among other issues.
USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach was in Montana to announce a new draft policy for Brucella research. He shares more on the efforts to eradicate the disease in the Greater Yellowstone Area.
The 7th Annual Montana Ewe Sale and the 95th Annual Montana Ram Sale will be held on September 16 and 17 in Miles City, MT. Leah Johnson, Executive Secretary for the Montana Wool Growers Association, discusses this year's sale. https://mtsheep.org/95th-annual-montana-ram-sale/
On September 4th, 2020 the State of Montana Declared a State of Fire Emergency. The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) Executive Officer Mike Honeycutt shares insight on exemptions livestock producers have udder the declaration. https://westernagnetwork.com/montana-declares-state-of-fire-emergency-exemptions-for-livestock-producers
Grant Heaton is six years old and was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at age three. Duchenne is a genetic disease that destroys muscle, all of them. There is no cure or real treatment for Duchenne. Boys that are affected by it don’t make it out of their 20’s and are wheelchair-bound from around age 10 to 15. Grant’s dad Paul shares information about how ranchers can donate part of their livestock sales proceeds during the September 17th, 2020 cattle sale at the Billings Livestock Comm...
“The Beginners Guide to Direct Marketing Meat” webinar series will give participants the opportunity to learn about the do’s and don’ts of direct marketing. Webinar host and owner of High Five Meats Sarah Hollenbeck shares more.
As the spring wheat planting is close to wrapping up here Montana, there is a lot of farmers' minds. I spoke with the Montana Grain Growers President Vince Mattson of Chester, MT on how things are shaping up this spring.
Ranchers are stressed out and wearing thin. Folks have sent me inquiries about what a 50% mandatory negotiated cash trade will do for the cattle markets. Ag. Economist Dr. Gary Brester shared insight on cash trade, the backlog of cattle in feedlots, what prices could be for calves and risk management advice, and much more.
Montana U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines along with Congressman Greg Gianforte share their efforts to address livestock market issues ranging from MCOOL, packer investigations to removing red tape on meat processing and more.
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox sent a letter to U.S. AG William Barr expressing antitrust concerns involving meatpackers within the cattle industry. His efforts to help cattle producers along with ranchers voicing their concerns in the countryside have prompted President Donald Trump to ask the Department of Justice to investigate the meatpacking industry.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, farm fairs which would be teeming with eager students have been nixed, but the Montana Farm Bureau is holding a virtual farm fair to bring the educational ag-related topics directly to your home. MFBF’s Promotion & Education Committee Chair Bonita Cremer shares how Montana Farm Bureau’s Virtual Farm Fair is scheduled to run on social media beginning May 11 and throughout that week. https://www.facebook.com/events/541601436546147/
Montana Farm Bureau President Hans McPherson took a break from calving to talk cattle prices, COVID-19, anxiety in the countryside.
With a consensus that we are in or heading into a recession in the aftermath of the coronavirus, what impact will it have on the cattle markets? Ag economist Dr. Anton Bekkerman gives insight to the marketplace and looks to past recession trends on what may occur. Dr. Bekkerman is an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics at Montana State University. Click here for the full article: http://ageconmt.com/economic-recession-impacts-on-cattle-markets-lessons-fr...
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox is president of the National Association of Attorney Generals. This week he spoke on the phone with U.S. Attorney General William Barr. They discussed price gouging and consumer protection in the wake of the coronavirus. Fox also brought up the livestock markets and concerns livestock producers have with meatpacker profits.
Montana Stockgrowers Association Exc. VP Jay Bodner shares an overview of MSGA's efforts during the COVID-19 situation, a new job opening with the association and plans for the 2020 Summer Business Meeting.
There has been a drop in the cattle markets in the wake of the coronavirus. Why is that? Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association gives insight into how his group is working to get to the bottom of the market losses cattle producers are experiencing. While also working with USDA to make sure a steady supply of beef continues to be restocked in the neighborhood grocery store.
