News brief february 2016 online

MONTANA FARM BUREAU

News Brief We Care for the Country

February 2016

TOP STORIES

PAL program provides insight

Yellowstone County Farm Bureau members at the IDEAg Trade Show. Pictured (l to r) are Ted, Ainsley and Lisa McFarland, Gretchen Schubert, Kamdyn McFarland, Bonnie Kinsfather, Jim Schubert and Barry Kinsfather.

MFBF members learn at AFBF Convention The American Farm Bureau Convention with its large numbers of farmers and ranchers, thought-provoking workshops, high-energy general sessions and IDEAg Trade Show is always impressive, but especially when it’s your first time to attend. This year, Barry and Bonnie Kinsfather from Yellowstone County Farm Bureau, along with Gil Gasper from McCone County Farm Bureau, joined 37 other MFBF members in Orlando.

“There is an amazing diversity of people at the convention,” said Gil Gasper, MFBF Young Farmer and Rancher Chair. “Even randomly meeting someone, you find you have so much in common.”

The Kinsfathers, who are small grains farmers near Billings, said all of the event was educational, and they especially enjoyed meeting other farmers from other states. “It’s a great opportunity to talk to a peanut or cotton farmer from the South and learn all about the crop, machinery and the work they do,” said Barry Kinsfather.

Jennie Anderson of Sweet Grass County, competed in the national Discussion Meet.

Anderson said the competition provided an excellent experience in both research and public speaking. “This has been a great way to improve public speaking and interact with other people involved in agriculture.”

Ken Johnson, a Conrad wheat farmer, has been coming to the convention for years and enjoyed the tours.

Workshops covered a variety of subjects from trade agreements to working with the media, environmental regulations to preserving family farms. (Press releases at most workshops can be found on newsroom.fb.org.)

Convention goers heard the closing speech of retiring AFBF President Bob Stallman, listened to Shark Tank real estate guru Barbara Corcoran talk about branding your products, and enjoyed the music of Home Free, an acapella group who performed for the AFB Foundation Fundraiser.

See full story at http://mfbf.org/ag-newswire/2016/02/impressed-with-afbf-convention/.

New York. Washington, D.C. Rio de Janeiro. Jennifer Bergin, who serves as District 3 Director on the MFBF Board, is attending ag advocacy training in urban settings as part of the American Farm Bureau’s Partners in Agricultural Leadership Program (PAL).

Bergin decided to apply for the program (which has a tough selection process) because, “I felt I owed it to myself and the Farm Bureau members I represent to become better at speaking for them.”

The PAL class, which is designed to enhance leadership skills, takes young farmers and ranchers who have already begun personal development and take them to the next level. The topic that this group was given was regarding GMOs. Continued on page 3.

New leadership elected for AFBF

Zippy Duvall of Georgia was elected president of the American Farm Bureau Federation during the AFBF Annual Convention Jan. 8-13 in Orlando. Scott VanderWal of South Dakota was elected as AFBF vice president.

“I have served with Zippy on the American Farm Bureau Board of Directors for the past nine years and look forward to the opportunity to work with him as our new AFBF president,” said Montana Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Hanson.

“We are looking forward to working with this well-balanced leadership.”

See full story at http://mfbf.org/?p=7698.

STATE NEWS

Permit changes to allow bison grazing

Montana Farm Bureau members close to the Bureau of Land Management’s Flat Creek Allotment were especially disturbed to discover the BLM approved the American Prairie Reserve (APR)’s request for change of use on that allotment. The change of use is from cattle to bison.

This prompted the Montana Farm Bureau Federation to fire off a letter to Vinita Shea, field manager for the Bureau of Land Management in Malta.

“Montana Farm Bureau, along with its members, was in opposition to the initial application for change in April of 2015 and submitted comments at the time saying as much,” said Montana Farm Bureau President Bob Hanson. “Our members are very concerned with the idea of, and movement toward, establishing a ‘wild’ bison herd in Montana. We think this decision symbolizes the BLM’s endorsement of doing just that.”

The letter explained that MFBF is especially concerned with the term ‘indigenous bison’. Under Montana law, bison are considered “a species in need of management” (MCA 87-1-216) and thereby under the authority of the Department of Livestock and the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.

“For all intents and purposes, we believe they should be classified and referred to strictly as ‘bison’ to avoid any confusion or ambiguity regarding Montana state law,” said Hanson. Hanson states that the APR’s comments that year-round grazing fosters economic development for private ranchers and ranching communities are plain wrong. “This decision does the exact opposite; it ensures, for the foreseeable future, these allotments are merely an extension of APR’s boundaries and serve no economic benefit to any rancher or citizen of Phillips County or the state of Montana.”

MT Farm Bureau captures top awards The Montana Farm Bureau received the Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state can be awarded for program and membership achievement, during the 97th American Farm Bureau Annual Convention Jan. 8-13 in Orlando, Fla. Montana Farm Bureau President Bob Hanson accepted the prestigious award during the opening session.

Montana Farm Bureau captured six State Awards for Excellence in: Education and Outreach; Leadership Development; Member Services; Policy Development & Implementation; Public Relations & Communications; and Membership Initiatives. MFBF also won three President’s Awards for Member Services, Membership Initiatives and Leadership Development. President’s Awards are the “best of the best” and are presented for excellence in each six of the program areas to states by membership category size.

MFBF received the Navigator Award for exceeding state membership growth goals.

MFBF was also the first state in the nation to make AFBF membership quota. This is the eighth year in a row MFBF has captured his honor. The state’s largest agricultural organization currently has 21,000 member families.

In addition, MFBF received an Apex Award which is achieved when a state has donated 10 percent more to the American Farm Bureau Foundation than during the previous year.

The donation total includes gifts from individual members, Silent Auction purchases and investments from state Farm Bureaus.

MFBF Calendar MFBF Board Meeting Bozeman • March 7-8 MFBF Summer Conference Great Falls • June 7-9

MFBF President Bob Hanson, left, receives the Pinnacle Award from AFBF President Bob Stallman at the AFBF Convention.

DAIRY COMMENTS

The Montana Farm Bureau has sent comments to Department of Livestock on proposed changes to license assessments for dairy producers, distributors, and producer/distributors. MFBF Executive Vice President John Youngberg pointed out that Montana’s dairy industry has dwindled dramatically. “It is our concern that instituting a drastic spike in license assessment fees will apply additional financial pressure to the industry,” Youngberg said. “However, it is imperative increases to license assessment fees be commensurate with the costs of administering these services.”

MFBF supports seeking additional General Fund money in the 2017 Legislative Session to assist in lessening the financial burden to the Department and dairy producers alike. “A short-term solution is necessary and will lay the road for reaching a long-term solution,” Youngberg said.

People Lillian Ostendorf was re-elected during the AFBF Convention to serve as the western representative on the AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee.

Lillian is a member of Custer/Fallon County Farm Bureau.

Leslie Dryer Doely has been hired by the Montana Department of Livestock as the new Brands Enforcement Divisions Administrator. Leslie is a member of the Lewis & Clark County Farm Bureau and MFBF YF&R.

In The News Bob Hanson, Lillian Ostendorf, Jennie Anderson - AFBF Convention, Northern Ag Network John Youngberg - Governor’s bison decision, Voices of Montana

NATIONAL NEWS Grainger Made Easy

Whether you’re a farmer, business owner, or just someone who loves power tools and great savings, as a Montana Farm Bureau member, you’ll receive 10 percent off Grainger Industrial Supplies. Need help activating your Farm Bureau discount on Grainger.com®? View an informative tutorial by clicking on http://mfbf. org/member-services/benefits/grainger/tutoriall. It takes you step by step through registration, making it easy to get started.

Remember, all Farm Bureau Grainger.com® orders qualify for FREE standard ground shipping.

Montana Farm Bureau members work on advocacy, issues

Five Montana Farm Bureau members are preparing to travel to Washington, D.C. Feb. 22-25 to participate in the American Farm Bureau Issues Advisory Committees (IAC). This is the second year for the IAC programs which have been changed from the previous commodity committees. The IAC was formed so membership would have substantial input in refining and implementing AFBF policy objectives. Committee members selected from Montana are: Turk Stovall, Billings, cattle rancher—Animal Care; Gary Heibertshausen, Alzada, sheep rancher —Environmental Regulations; Bruce Wright, Bozeman, small grains farmer—Farm Policy; Tom DePuydt, Saco, small grain and pulse farmer, cattle rancher—Federal Lands; and Larry Switzer, Richey, cattle rancher—Market Structures As part of the IAC meeting, the participants will attend the Advocacy Conference.

This conference will teach how to become better advocates for agriculture by learning to connect with their congressional delegation, their legislators and learning how to take action on issues important to agriculture. There will be a half-day session with tracks about advocacy and policy briefings, then a full day on Capitol Hill. The three main issues covered during the conference will be technology, regulatory reform and trade.

In addition, commitee members will have the opportunity to meet with the new AFBF president, Zippy Duvall of Georgia, and new AFBF Vice President Scott VanderWal of South Dakota.

Horse and Burro Campaign

The National Horse and Burro Rangeland Management Coalition has launched a public information and education campaign to increase awareness of the need for better management actions to improve and maintain the health of western public rangelands for wild horses and burros, livestock grazing and wildlife and other multiple uses, as well as ensure the best use of taxpayers’ dollars. Visit www.wildhorserange.org and email horseandrange@gmail.com.

#iAdvocate Photo Contest

Farmers and ranchers are invited to share their stories about advocating for agriculture with the American Farm Bureau Federation as part of the just-launched #iAdvocate campaign. Ten winners will receive a $100 Farm Bureau Bank gift card. Photo entries should include an #iAdvocate white board or sign.

The contest is open through March 25.

For contest rules and details, or to enter the contest with a photo of yourself advocating for agriculture visit https://www.facebook. com/FarmBureauPandE.

PALS, continued from page 1.

“The New York trip really showed us what we didn’t know,” Bergin admitted. “They had us come with ideas of what we personally thought we knew about ag advocacy and what we thought was different. We did interviews and were critiqued.”

The Melstone rancher said farmers and ranchers PALS in New York. believe the public has some knowledge about agriculture, but the reality is they don’t. “It seems that people—especially Millennials—see things visually, that is what they believe, even if it’s negative or untrue. Agriculture needs to step into that arena and show what we do.”

In Washington, D.C. the PAL class received additional media and leadership training and worked on talking with lobbyists and congressmen about GMOs. “What we learned was it is important to feel comfortable talking knowledgeably but it’s also essential to know your audience. How I tell my story is different when I’m talking to a fourth-grade class in Billings than when I’m talking to a reporter or when I’m visiting with a congressman. Learning to change your presentation is important, as is showing your passion for the subject.”

See full story at http://mfbf.org/?p=7853.

AFBF board of directors sets strategic plan for 2016 The American Farm Bureau Federation’s board released highlights of its 2016 strategic action plan which addresses public policy issues in the coming year.

The plan is a result of deliberations of delegates to the AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention in Orlando. The board-approved plan focuses the organization’s attention on a number of key issues including: Creating a more positive dialogue with consumers about modern agricultural practices; protecting farmers’ ability to use biotech plant varieties and other innovative technologies; opposing unlawful expansion of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act; and moving forward with congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

Montana Farm Bureau President Bob Hanson noted that especially important to the economy of Montana is the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, opposing EPA on its Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule and ensuring that the state can still mine and sell its clean-burning coal overseas.

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COUNTY NEWS Fergus County Farm Bureau had a trade show booth at the Montana Winter Fair, Jan. 29-30 in Lewistown at the Fairgrounds Trade Center. Thank you to Joyce McClure who donated a Charlie Russell print for a drawing at the booth. Fergus County held a pancake supper Feb. 2 with the board of directors donating the food and their cooking skills at the Farm Bureau Insurance office in Lewistown.

McCone County Farm Bureau had a booth at Circle Ag Day January 30 which included an ATV safety talk to school kids.

Wheatland-Golden Valley Farm Bureau is participating in the Our Food Link Program by supplying reusable grocery bags to local grocery stores. The reusable bags will have photos from the Farm Bureau ag advocacy campaigns, Food & Farm Facts literature, a local producer profile newsletter, notepads, pens and stickers for kids, as well as grocery gift cards for some lucky shoppers.

Mark Your Calendars

ATV Safety County Farm Bureaus excel at holding ATV Safety Trainings. Kids learn to wear proper equipment, ride an appropriate-size vehicle and how to drive carefully.

Winter Fair

Gil Gasper and Cheryl Jensen at Circle Ag Day.

Powder River / Carter County Farm Bureau will be hosting a Montana Ag Safety workshop, along with a Fire Safe training demonstration, March 10 at the Boyes Community Hall at 2 p.m.

Food will be served following the event.

Thad Jenni and Mariah Shammel serve members during the Pancake Supper in Lewistown.

MFBF’s Scott Kulbeck and Cascade County’s Marjorie Pribyl discuss proper speed for an ATV at the Safety Seminar for Kids during the MAGIE in Great Falls.

MFBF’s Nicole Rolf and McCone County President Gil Gasper show a brain mold to the kids (Wear a helmet!) at Circle Ag Day.