Eric Bergman, District 1, Fort Shaw Brett Dailey, District 4, Jordan William Downs, District 5, Molt Ben Peterson, At-Large director, Judith Gap Sig Rudie, Fairview, At-Large director Sarah Rachor, Sidney, District

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!!

Member Recruited By

Grady & Teresa Breipohl, Saco Shane Anderson Cherry Valley Farms Inc., Glasgow Del Hansen Wad Jackson, Glendive Watts Agency Janshen Farm LLC, Miles City Watts Agency Tim & Shirlene Watts, Miles City Watts Agency Donna Quick, Circle Kaylen Lehner Big Muddy Grazing Assoc. Inc, Culbertson Jesse Fleming Edwin & Georgia Bray, Mussellshell KJ Fauth Glynn & Peggy DeVries, Conrad Dirk Elings Terry & Lorilyn Wubben, Manhattan Craig Parker Michael & Natalia Derks, Fromberg Wes Schwend Kemph Farms Inc., Pompeys Pillar Melissa Wacker Denise Pugh, Bozeman Art Hoffart Robert Holst, Bigfork Andy Luedtke Randall & Shalann Bowe, Melrose Sara Nye LeRoy & Alvaretta Morin, Arlee Andre Marcure Christopher Neher, Stevensville Andre Marcure Rebecca Schneider, New Port Beach CA Andre Marcure Richard & Celine Lingford, Dillon Judy Siring Aaron & Alyssa Granley, Bainville JR Johnson Claire & Tom Baiz, New York City,NY Walter Schweitzer Juliet & Lowell Hahn, East Helena Margie Arnst Stacie & Scott Schissler, Great Falls Kyle Hager Julie & Charles Maxwell, Ulm Blake Standley Lisa Sanchez & Jim Carrell, Loma Fort Benton Elementary Jenny & Jeremy Marn, Belt MFU Office Ashley & Josh Gustafson, Great Falls MFU Office Madeline & Matthew Little, Geraldine MFU Office Jessica Shortridge, Sand Coulee MFU Office Jarrod & Tanya Murgel, East Helena MFU Office Jesse & Krystal Jerome, Helena MFU Office Eric & Mandi Dirk, Great Falls MFU Office Jennifer Roberts, Great Falls MFU Office Fanatasia Stordahl, Great Falls MFU Office Krystal & Greg Ferguson, Great Falls MFU Office Casey & Jeff Dawson, Belt MFU Office Misty & Giles Fish, Helena MFU Office Molly & Peter Wilson, Sand Coulee MFU Office Jennifer & Christian Banks, Floweree MFU Office Jessica Beeman, Great Falls MFU Office Erin Jones, Belt MFU Office Stephanie & Steven Cordeiro, Great Falls MFU Office Dawn & John O’Leary, Great Falls MFU Office Becky & Bradley Platis, Great Falls MFU Office Brooke Corry, Great Falls MFU Office Brad Gilchrist, Great Falls MFU Office Stacy Griessmer, Great Falls MFU Office Lisa & Alex Watson, Great Falls MFU Office Jordana Glick, Belt MFU Office Jennifer & Christian Banks, Floweree MFU Office David & Shannon Harper, Absarokee MFU Office Susan & Richard Gobbs, Helena MFU Office Katy & Thomas Lovell, Helena MFU Office Tammie Lund-Smith, Frenchtown MFU Office

IN THIS ISSUE

Rebuilding Food Resiliency Road Show Details Page 4

Member Profile: Spring Brook Yak Ranch cont.; Details on Celebrate Agriculture 2021 Page 5

Join us for the 2021 Members’ Picnic! Page 6

MFU Enters the Meat Processing Market Page 7

Legislative Scorecard Page 8 & 9

2021 Arrowpeak Camp Sneak Peek! Page 10

MFU Travels to Fort Benton for Ag Days;

Column by Montana

Department of

Agriculture Director Christy Clark Page 11

MONTANA FARMERS UNION

PO BOX 2447 300 RIVER DRIVE NORTH GREAT FALLS MT 59403

PHONE: (406) 452-6406 1-800-234-4071 FAX: (406) 727-8216

mfu@montanafarmersunion.com www.montanafarmersunion.com

Board of Directors:

Walter Schweitzer, President Rollie Schlepp, Vice President, Conrad Jan Tusick, Secretary/Treasuer, District 6, Ronan Erik Somerfeld, District 2, Power Jeff Bangs, At-Large Director District 1& 2, Inverness Eric Bergman, District 1, Fort Shaw Brett Dailey, District 4, Jordan William Downs, District 5, Molt Ben Peterson, At-Large director, Judith Gap Sig Rudie, Fairview, At-Large director Sarah Rachor, Sidney, District 3 State Office Staff:

Jan Johnson, Office Mgr., Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer Lyndsay Bruno, Communications Director/ Editor Justin Loch, Membership Director Rachel Prevost, Camp Advisor/Education Violet Green, Education Coordinator Audra Labert, Digital Marketing Specialist Matt Rains, Special Projects

Copyright © Montana Farmers Union, 2021. Montana Grassroots is the official publication of the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, Montana Division. MFU reserves the right to reject any advertisements. Third Class bulk postage paid at Great Falls MT 59401.

Membership: $50.00 per year

Montana Grassroots is published monthly. Article submissions are requested by the 15th of the month.

Copy Editor: Jan Johnson Editor/Designer: Lyndsay Bruno

Member Recruited By

Richard & Aariel Tange Heitstuman, Helena MFU Office John & Barbara Skoyen, Chinook MFU Office Newell & Linda Roche, Lewistown MFU Office Barbara Lodman & Michael Peterson, Lewistown MFU Office Marita Valencia & David Ballman, Lewistown MFU Office Paul Tuss, Havre MFU Office Dale & Arlys Williams, Chinook MFU Office Aubrey Williams, Havre MFU Office Bill & Cathie Bradbury, Havre MFU Office George Amen, Billings Judd Long

MFU TRAVELS TO CENTRAL & EASTERN MONTANA WITH WORKSHOP SERIES

BY JUSTIN LOCH MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

In May Montana Farmers Union was able to get back on the road with the workshop series Rebuilding Food Resiliency. We visited Havre, Shelby, Choteau, and Lewistown. In June we will present to the communities of Billings, Miles City and Sidney. In June we will visit the Eastern Montana communities of Billings, Miles City and Sidney.

Our first tour was met with great success and attendance. President Walter Schweitzer gave a general overview of MFU and organizational events. The highlight of President Schweitzer’s presentation was the glaring issue of food resiliency. Years ago Montana raised close to 70 percent of the food that lined grocery store shelves. Most major communities had a meat processor, bakery, flour mill, and milk bottling facility. Today, less than 20 percent of food in grocery stores comes from Montana producers. Schweitzer stated the need for local processing and food distribution amongst our communities. Along with his presentation Schweitzer strongly stated the need for Country-of-Origin Labeling. He went on to say that Montana raises the best beef in the world and consumers deserve to know where their meat comes from.

Following Schweitzer, Jesse Anderson with Senator Tester’s office and Christy Clark, Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture and attorney Cort Jensen, talked about funding opportunities for communities through the American Rescue Plan. Clark talked about Montana Resiliency Grant Program. The department is requesting funds for local produce and protein production and distribution, on-farm storage, and resilient supply chain infrastructure. Producers can sign up for updates from the Montana Department of Agriculture at https://agr. mt.gov, visit the newly launched website arpa. mt.gov or call 1-844-406-ARPA (2772) for program information.

Next, Matt Rains who manages special projects for MFU, presented on a cooperative meat processing project that Montana Farmers Union is working on. The goal of this project is to provide a live-to-package meat processing solution for Montana livestock producers. As the cooperative develops by the steering committee membership will be available for producers. Along with the developing cooperative MFU is working closely with Montana State University Northern in Havre to develop a meat cutting curriculum that will help to turn out skilled butchers to help rebuild and fill Montana’s meat processing services.

MFU lobbyist Rachel Prevost gave a presentation on the 2021 Montana Legislature. Some of the big items that MFU worked on were Country-of-Origin Labeling, Right to Repair, and Truth in Labeling. Rachel worked closely with legislators to help MFU members and producers work on policy that would benefit Montana ag producers. Rachel also presented on Commercial Property Assessed Capital Enhancement program. C-PACE is a tool that can finance energy efficiency and renew- able energy improvements on commercial property.

Other presenters included representatives from local economic development groups in the various communities. This included Michael Peters with Bear Paw Development, Curtis Shuck with Port of Northern Montana, Laurie Lorher and Marita Valencia with the Central Montana Resource Council and Mary Jenni with Montana Lamb and Beef. A recorded session of the workshop series will be available on our website at montanafarmersunion.com.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!

Walter Schweitzer introduces Jesse Anderson with Senator Tester’s office who spoke on federal funding for rural broadband and emergency services. Montana Department of Agriculture Director Christy Clark presents on funding opportunities through the American Rescue Plan in Havre.

MEMBER PROFILE CONTINUED

Spring Brook Ranch strives for more of a bison conformation. Novak said they focus their genetics on breeding yaks with docility which comes down to strong bloodlines and good genetics. Secondly, is good conformation. “Our yaks tend to be 100 to 200 pounds larger than the typical yak. We like big stocky shoulders, a heavy bottom , a really strong back and good spring of rib. It’s also important their legs aren’t too straight as they are mountain cows. If their legs are too straight it can make breeding more challenging.”

Nutrition is a very important aspect of raising yaks. Novak said it’s important to regularly sample soil and water. She has heard of yaks that despite having access to knee deep grass in California because of the clay type soil they were starving to death. The yaks eat native range and local hay in the winter which comes off an organic farm. “This fits in with the story of our local customers,” said Watson. “They don’t want anything artificial and our customers trust us to do the right thing.”

The Business Model Evolves

Watson said the industry has changed in recent years. Their business for high-end breeding has dried up. “One of their primary focuses is selling the meat which Watson said tastes much like bison. Yak meat is packed with protein and very lean.

Like many others COVID hit the business pretty hard. “It killed our meat market for a time with restaurants shutting down and people not willing to pay a premium for our product. We continued to butcher and donate to the food banks and Blackfeet Tribe.”

Watson said they are starting to see things take a turn for the better. They sell their meat to a few area restaurants and two small grocery stores in Kalispell. Watson recommends the short ribs. They also make nitrate and MSG free sausage. “It gives our restaurants an opportunity to upsell to something different,” said Watson. “We focus on quality versus quantity.”

Advice for Aspiring Yak Breeders

“I start out by questioning why they want yaks,” said Watson. “Someone who wants a fiber animal for hand spinning is going to want a very different phenotype than someone who wants strictly a meat animal. Some just want pasture pets. We have an opportunity to choose our customers wisely.” Novak said facility and land are important if a person is going to raise yaks. “They don’t do well in a penned in stall.” Said Novak. “They are range and grazing animals. They need room. They are so multi-purpose. You can plow with them and ride them. Every part of the meat is useable and of course there is the fiber component.”

Social media has helped with the education of the yak breed. Novak started the Facebook page Yak 101. “I started it six years ago and have over 2,000 members. People from all over the world responding to different situations. Whether it be minerals, nutrition, calving, fencing or grazing. It covers everything from hoof to horn.”

Yaks thrive in cold weather thanks to a dual coat. Photo courtesy of Spring Brook Ranch.

YAK FACTS

• Highly Intelligent • Yaks are very social. • Yak Meat is 95-97% lean. • Yaks are pack Animals. They can carry 20% of their body weight. • Yaks are the only animal that can survive at 20,000 feet because of their lung capacity. • Yaks love the cold! They can survive at -40 degrees thanks to their dual coat. • A yak’s life expectancy averages 20 years.

MFU PROUD TO SPONSOR CELEBRATE AGRICULTURE 2021

MSU will be holding Celebrate Agriculture 2021 on November 12-13. The Ag Econ’s Outlook Conference kicks off Friday morning at The GranTree Inn. That evening MSU will hold its annual dinner celebrating this year’s Outstanding Ag Leader along with our scholarship donors and recipients. Montana Farmers Union is a Platinum-Plus Sponsor of Celebrate Ag this year. “Education empowers the next generation of farmers and ranchers and MSU does an excellent job of preparing future leaders in agriculture,” said Walter Schweitzer, Montana Farmers Union President. “We are proud to be a sponsor of Celebrate Agriculture once again!”

Also for your consideration is nominating someone you respect for the Outstanding Agricultural Leader Award. August 30 is the deadline to nominate. You can do so by visiting: https://www. montana.edu/news/21147/msu-college-of-agriculture-seeks-nominations-for-outstanding-leaders.

The biggest event will be, as always, the Saturday pre-game brunch before the Bobcats take on the Vandals of Idaho. This year MSU is hosting this campus gathering in the Rendezvous Dining Pavilion.The public schedule for Celebrate Ag!! can be found at http://agriculture.montana.edu/ celebrateag/.