MONTANA Farm Bureau
News Brief
TOP STORIES
Convention slated for Missoula in November
The Montana Farm Bureau 2025 Annual Convention takes place November 17-20 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula.
Although the details are still being finalized, the convention, which runs Monday through Thursday—with the delegate session kicking off Wednesday—promises to have top keynote speakers, interesting workshops and plenty of time for camaraderie.
Watch for details and registration information in the MFBF Fall Spokesman and on MFBF’s social media channels.
September safety weeks
National Farm Safety and Health Week and National Railroad Safety Week are both the third week of September. September 22-26, AgriSafe offers webinars each day on specific topics including equipment and road safety, health and wellness, generations of farming, confined spaces and ATV/ UTV. Visit https://www.agrisafe.org/ nfshw/ for webinar dates and times.
Rail Safety Week, September 15-21, 2025, reminds us that safety is a shared responsibility. For Montana’s farmers, ranchers and rural residents, railroads are lifelines, carrying wheat, cattle feed, fertilizer, and consumer goods to and from our communities. Keeping these rail lines safe and efficient is critical to agriculture and to our rural economy.
Being safe includes slowing down when approaching a crossing and looking and listening for a train.
Read the MFBF release on railroad safety at mfbf.org/Media/News
September 2025
Yellowstone County receives steak dinner reward
Sizzling steaks awaited Yellowstone County Farm Bureau members August 21 at the Homesteader Hall in Huntley.
Montana Farm Bureau staff provided a steak BBQ dinner to the county Farm Bureau that has the best record of membership work annually in the month of May.
“We were excited to host the May Membership Month barbecue in Yellowstone County for a second time,” said MFBF Regional Manager Rikki Swant, who has Yellowstone County as one of the counties she works with.
“The members in Yellowstone worked hard to recruit and retain members this spring and it payed off,” Swant said.
Yellowstone County President Jodie Drange said, “What a wonderful time Yellowstone County Farm Bureau mem-
bers had being spoiled with the state leaders cooking us a steak dinner for winning the membership drive. We had 85 voting members and families at the event.”
Drange continued, “The county board members had a wonderful evening visiting with the attendees and telling them what we do and getting to know them. The steak dinner got them there but hopefully when members heard our story of what we are doing and realized who the board members were they will become more involved. Tanglewood played in the background making it a memorable event.”
The two runners-up were Cascade County, who won last year, and Northwest Counties.
Dinner’s ready! MFBF Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck and MT Agri-Safety Program Director Dana Jansen grill steaks for Yellowstone County who won the May Membership Month challenge.
STATE NEWS
Conservation Award
Thomas Herefords of Gold Creek have been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Montana Leopold Conservation Award®.
The award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.
Thomas Herefords, owned by Bruce and Tammy Thomas, and Richard and Shirley Thomas, will be presented with the award at the Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention in November. They receive $10,000 for being selected.
Pesticide Collection
The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is facilitating fall pesticide disposal events during the week of September 23 – 26, 2025, in Plentywood, Glasgow, Glendive, and Hardin. Annual pesticide waste collection events have collected nearly 780,000 pounds of pesticide waste from over 1,800 participants since the program’s inception in 1994.
The dates are Plentywood, 9/23; Glasgow, 9/24; Glendive, 9/25 and Hardin, 9/26.
The pre-registration deadline for the fall event is Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Visit the Montana Waste Pesticide Disposal Program page at agr.mt.gov to register.
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Photo Contest
Early autumn is a fantastic season to take extraordinary photos for the Women’s Leadership Committee Photo Contest. This year’s theme is Montana Agriculture with entries, limited to five per member, due November 8. Contest is for amateur photographers only and entrants must be a current MFBF member. Email photos to MFBFPhotoContest@gmail.com with MFBF Photo Contest in the subject line.
MFBF speaks out on wolves, grizzly bears
Montana Farm Bureau leaders and members spoke up during two events in August. On Wednesday, August 20, Montana Farm Bureau members joined state and national leaders during a meeting in Choteau regarding grizzly bear conflicts and the need for a realistic, sustainable number of the federally protected species in the area. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Director Christy Clark and Joshua Coursey, senior advisor to the director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listened as area landowners and residents shared their thoughts on the bears.
Prior to the afternoon meeting, Governor Gianforte and Director Clark took an aerial tour of the area to get the big picture where bear densities have caused recent concerns with landowners and residents in the Choteau area.
Front Range County Farm Bureau and Lewis and Clark County Farm Bureau sponsored a reception where ranchers had the opportunity to share the challenges of trying to raise livestock in bear country.
“We live with grizzly bears 24/7 all year long. Bears come through our yard on a regular basis. We see them almost every day in the summer,” said Misti Redland who ranches with her family west of Choteau. “It is a big concern being able to protect our livelihood and our family.”
The following day, MFBF was represented during the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission meeting on wolf management where Montana Farm Bureau advocated for a sustainable, managed wolf population. In addition to a representative speaking at the Helena meeting, the Farm Bureau submitted comments on the issue. The commission received over 1,100 public comments.
“What is of utmost importance is that state management of wolves be maintained,” said MFBF State Governmental Affairs Coordinator Karli Johnson. “We appreciate the good work of the department and commission to do that while taking into consideration the detrimental effect wolves have on ranchers.”
Read the full story at mfbf.org/media/news.
Calendar
YF&R Hoofin’ it for Hunger
September 20
Dillon
MFBF Annual Convention
November 17-20
Missoula
AFBF Convention
January 9-12, 2026
Anaheim, CA
MFBF YF&R Leadership Conference
January 23-25, 2026
Great Falls
People in the News
Yellowstone County Board member Greg Gabel was interviewed by MFBF member Morgan Kuntz-Garrison with The Prairie Star regarding the severe hailstorm his farm experienced June 16, 2025.
MFBF President Cyndi Johnson interviewed with Montana Public Radio regarding Montana’s farm economy and the urgent need for markets for Montana’s agricultural products.
MFBF Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck interviewed with Colter Brown, Northern Ag Network, regarding the MFBF Impact Report and the value that MFBF delivers to members.
Yellowstone County President Jodie Drange and MT AgriSafety Program Director Dana Jansen were featured on Lane Nordland’s Lanecast Ag Podcast where they covered a variety of subjects.
Members of county Farm Bureaus met with Montana FWP Director Christy Clark, Governor Greg Gianforte and U.S. FWS Josh Coursey regarding grizzly bear management.
At publishing time, two county Farm Bureaus have held their annual meetings. Big Horn County, the first annual meeting of the season, was held August 25 at J&D Meats in Hardin. The members discussed potential activities to attract more members, developed a resolution regarding New World Screwworm control, and voted for officers and delegates for the MFBF Convention. The board presented their reports and MFBF Vice President Casey Mott shared details about attending the Washington, D.C. Fly-In in July.
Hill-Liberty-Blaine Counties held their annual meeting August 26 at the Beaver Creek Golf Course in Havre.
Front Range and Lewis & Clark Counties hosted a reception with state and federal leaders August 20 in Helena, to talk about grizzly bear management. (See page 2.)
Rosebud/Treasure County is hosting their Membership Golf Scramble September 13 at the Forsyth Country Club. The nine-hole scramble is complete with lunch, team and individual prizes and flag prizes.
Big Horn County presented sweatshirts to the 4-H carcass competition winners at the Big Horn County Fair in August.
Broadwater County handed out water bottles during the Broadwater County Fair in late August.
COUNTY NEWS
Northwest, Dawson/Wibaux and Richland Counties held board meetings in August.
Richland County handed out water bottles at their county fair.
The Fourth Annual District 6 Fall Fest, hosted by Richland, McCone, Dawson-Wibaux, and Prairie Counties, is slated for October 4 at the Richland County Event Center in Sidney. This year’s guest speaker is Andrea Flemming, also known as ThatFitAgvocate on social media, who will give a powerful presentation sharing her story of what life is like as a 27-year-old farmer. Included in the ticket price is a delicious dinner, dancing to Mendenhall Crossing and fantastic door prizes.
Follow the District 6 Farm Bureau Fall Fest page on Facebook for tickets and updates.
Heading to a county annual meeting? County meeting attendees are eligible to register for a $500 Grainger gift card courtesy of Montana Farm Bureau. You must scan the QR code handed out at county annual meetings to be entered in the drawing. Entries close September 30, 2025.
MFBF VP Casey Mott shares recent state Farm Bureau activities at the Big Horn County Meeting in Hardin.
The Northwest Counties board poses for a photo during their productive board meeting.
Broadwater County President Chuck Plymale hands out water at the county fair.
Distict 6 members are gearing up for this event.
District 9 Director Karl Christians (orange shirt) and Front Range Couny member Bill McLean talk bears with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Josh Coursey.
Matt Noyes, Big Horn County vice president, participates in the discussion on a new resolution regarding the New World Screwworm.
MONTANA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
100 Red Mountain Drive, Suite 101 Bozeman, MT 59718
ISSN: 1555-788X
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation News Brief is published monthly except for January, April, July and October by the Montana Farm Bureau Federation at 100 Red Mountain Drive, Suite 101, Bozeman, MT 59718. Subscription rates are $4 per year, covered by annual dues to the Montana Farm Bureau Federation. Nonmember subscriptions are $25 per year. Mail at periodical postage rate in Bozeman, MT and at additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Montana Farm Bureau Federation News Brief, 100 Red Mountain Drive, Suite 101, Bozeman, MT 59718. 406-587-3153.
NATIONAL NEWS
AFBF wins case on animal waste reporting
American Farm Bureau has won their defense of EPA’s 2019 rule exempting air emissions from animal waste from EPCRA reporting requirements. After a coalition of environmental groups challenged the exemption, AFBF jumped into the case in 2020. The plaintiffs claimed that EPA’s rule violated the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), was arbitrary and capricious, and failed to undergo a NEPA environmental review. The D.C. District Court rejected all those arguments, holding that the exemption was consistent with both the text and purpose of EPCRA. Importantly, the court affirmed that because Congress expressly exempted these emissions from CERCLA reporting under the FARM Act, such releases do not “occur in a manner” that would require reporting under EPCRA. The court also found that EPA provided a reasonable explanation for the rule and that NEPA did not apply because the agency lacked discretion to do otherwise. This is a significant victory for farmers, affirming that routine emissions from animal waste should not trigger emergency reporting obligations designed for industrial chemical spills.
Farmers commend USDA for protecting livestock
American Farm Bureau Federation applauded USDA’s announcement that it will open a domestic sterile fly production facility to battle the New World screwworm.
“Farm Bureau commends Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Trump administration for committing the necessary resources to continue the battle to prevent the New World screwworm from entering the United States and affecting our cattle herd,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “They have answered the call of cattle producers across the country by establishing a domestic sterile fly production facility in Texas.
“It took decades to eradicate this parasite from within and adjacent to our borders more than a generation ago, and this is a proactive first step. We stand ready to help ensure the speedy and efficient construction of this facility and implementation of the updated plan.”
PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID
Kalispell, MT
“Quickbooks for Cowboys”
Called “QuickBooks for Cowboys,” Ambrook is MFBF’s new member benefit that helps farmers and ranchers manage records, expenses, budgets, and reports all in one place—so you can spend less time on paperwork and more time running your farm or ranch.
Montana Farm Bureau members receive 15% off their subscription plus access to financial literacy workshops and continuing education, both live and virtual.
Interested in exploring Ambrook with other members later this year? Contact Rikki Swant at rikkis@mfbf. org.
Check out all the MFBF member benefits at mfbf.org/benefits.