Montana Grassroots

-MONTANA FARMERS UNION-

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Farmers Union Enterprises just donated a third semi load of pork to the Montana Food Bank Network. The food banks of Montana have a higher demand for food now than they did during the peak of the COVID pandemic. During the first couple of years of COVID, funding was available to assist families to purchase food and pay rent. Now some funding has dried up and many families are still struggling to make ends meet. Price gouging by the corporate monopolies has put a squeeze on everyone. Many families are working multiple jobs to pay rent and buy food and clothes – and still come up short each month. Our food banks are filling this need, but they need our help. Farmers Union plans to help by paying the cost of processing any livestock donated to the food bank. If you are interested in donating livestock, contact us at mfu@montanafarmersunion.com to arrange the processing.

There are many ways to resolve food insecurity, but we should first look at how we got here. I have been reading “Closing the Food Gap – Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty” by Mark Winnie. It is enlightening as well as discouraging. He blames our current situation on President Ronald Reagan for dismantling the safety nets we had in place by cutting $1 billion from food stamps at the same time he eliminated the commodity reserve program that had been in place for more than 50 years. Before food stamps were created, surplus food was distributed directly to the people. Nixon expanded the Food Stamp program and curtailed distributing surplus food directly to the poor.

The 1980s decoupled our farm program, removing production controls and eliminating our food reserves that helped keep a stable food supply at a reasonable price. When commodity prices fell below a target price farmers could put their products into a loan program. The loan would help pay the bills and the bankers, while withholding the commodity from the marketplace forcing buyers to pay the loan price or not get the commodity. If the commodity price had not risen above the loan price by end of the loan period, the farmer could choose to forfeit it to the government held reserve. The government would hold onto the reserve and release it when commodity price increased or provide it to people in need.

Many of us remember getting blocks of cheese bags of flour and potatoes from the government. During the 1980s we moved away from commodity loan programs to commodity marketing programs and did away with production controls, all leading to the largest farm crisis in U.S. history. It also increased farm subsidies. These subsidies benefit corporate suppliers, banks, commodity traders, and railroads but not the family farm. That is why we lost so many family farms in the 1980s.

Reagan created CRP to try to stop the hemorrhaging of the family farm. While the program did help pay off some creditors, overall, it made the situation worse.

The commodity loans, production controls and reserve program cost the taxpayer little and provided a stable market.The commodity marketing program, no limits on production, and subsidies come at a huge expense to the taxpayer and food insecurity remains.

Before the 1980s private food banks and pantries were almost unheard of but, with reduction of food supports and surpluses, nonprofits created food banks and kitchens to try to fill the food gap. Winnie suggests that if the government is going to continue to ignore our food security and to shirk its duty to support the last and least it might be better to create community gardens to help people feed themselves.

Community gardens not only create a more resilient food supply, but also create healthier communities. He shared hundreds of examples of how community gardens not only provided food but also opportunities for people to feel good about themselves as they learned how to grow food to feed themselves.

Regardless of what tact you take, food insecurity remains an issue that needs to be adequately addressed in America.

Farmers Union’s recent donation to MFBN is one way farmers feed Montanans. Montana Farmers Union will continue to form and strengthen partnerships, educate Montanans of all ages, and support community projects and cooperatives that build a more resilient food supply system and more resilient Montana communities.

Walter Schweitzer

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

Tom Clark, District 1, Fort Benton

Brett Dailey, District 4, Jordan

William Downs, District 5, Molt

Ben Peterson, At-Large Director, Judith Gap

Sig Rudie, At-Large Director District 3 & 4, Fairview

Sarah Degn, District 3, Sidney

State Staff:

Walter Schweitzer, President

Matt Rains, Chief of Staff

Jan Johnson, Office Mgr., Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

Kari Kester, Administrative Assistant

Rachel Prevost, Government Affairs Director/ Member Svcs.

Matthew Hauk, Education Director

Heather Wendell, Communications Director

Peyton Cole, Event Coordinator

Jasmine Krotkov, Lobbyist

Alice Miller, Press Relations Specialist

Samatha Ferrat, Membership Ambassador

Eleanor Dutton, Membership Ambassador

Carissa McNamara, Membership Ambassador

Gwyneth Givens, Membership Ambassador

Mary Jenni, Membership Ambassador

Skylar Williams, Membership Ambassador

Dartanion Kaftan, Intern

Copyright © Montana Farmers Union, 2023

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 bi-monthly. Article

IN THIS ISSUE:

The Next Generation

Page 1

President’s Message

Page 2

Campers From Yesteryear

Pages 3, 6

Cooperative Update Calendar of Events

Page 4

MFU Pork Donation

Eastern MT Women’s Conference

Page 5

MFU Classifieds

Page 6

Membership Update

MFU Afoot & Afield

Page 7

Legislative Update

MFU Bookclub

Pages 8, 9

MFU Ambassador Updates Farm Bill Renewal Process Memorials

Pages 10, 11

Welcome New Members Page 12

Montana Marinara Madness

Page 13

Congressional Update

Page 14

NFU Washington Corner Page 15