Dec 2022/Jan 2023 Montana Grassroots Edition

GRASS ROOTS MONTANA

PUBLICATION BY MONTANA FARMERS UNION

Kelly Brings Love of Education to Farmers Union

“It’s kind of a long story,” Charlotte Kelly began the tale of how her family came to farm in Montana and why they were involved in Montana Farmers Union.

Kelly spoke while sitting at the kitchen table in her grandmother’s house, which, now remodeled, is much like Kelly’s involvement in Montana Farmers Union –different than the original yet a fixture to its respective landscape.

The tale began when her mother’s side of the family came to Montana through the Homestead Act. Originally, they lived near the Sweet Grass Hills but later moved between Chester and Joplin.

Kelly’s great grandfather was an MFU member because Farmers Union advocated for their best interests. Kelly told about how her grandmother rode a horse to the neighbors to share the meeting details.

Now, Kelly’s family isn’t as directly involved in agriculture, but she is steadfastly passionate about making sure Montana farmers and ranchers thrive.

Kelly’s husband Edward raises several cows, and the couple lives in the house on her grandparents’ place. The family’s farm land is leased to other producers, with

MFU Members Keep Legislature’s Focus Rural

As the Montana Legislature gets to work, so are Montana Farmers Union staff and members, with a Legislative Drive-In and lobbying efforts to help family farms and ranches thrive.

“Legislators are debating and reading and trying to understand bills that impact our lives, and it’s like drinking water from a fire hose,” MFU President Walter Schweitzer said.

“So they rely heavily on groups like ourselves, Farmers Union, to help them make decisions that are going to benefit their local communities, and we need to be able to develop a relationship of trust so that we are the go-to group when legislators see an issue that impacts agriculture or rural Montana,” Schweitzer added.

Being involved in the legislative process is as important, if not more so, than voting, said Erik Somerfeld, who sits on MFU’s board and has lobbied on the organization’s behalf many times, including during the first ever Legislative Drive In held earlier in January.

Being involved can be as simple as sending an email to

your legislators saying why you are or are not in favor of a bill, Somerfeld said, encouraging members to take it a step further and make face-to-face contact with legislators.

“When [legislators] see that individual who’s directly affected by whatever, that really hits home more than what the lobbyists say, or even those of us who are down there regularly for an organization,” he said.

PRIORITIES DECIDED BY MEMBERS

MFU priorities for this session are:

Restore local control and ability to protect Ag land: Montana Farmers Union supports a farmland and rangeland protection policy to encourage the continuation of farming versus urban development.

Right to Repair: Montana Farmers Union demands the right for farmers to repair their own equipment. Equipment manufacturers refuse access or charge exorbitant prices for technical advisor software needed to troubleshoot equipment.

Montana Farmers Union member Charlotte Kelly stands by the barn on her grandparents’ spread. Kelly runs an annual day camp in Chester, as well as volunteering her time to the Women’s Conference planning committee. Kelly most recently was elected secretary/treasurer of the newly formed Hi-Line Local. Her involvement is part of her family’s long history of MFU membership, including her grandparents, parents and children.

Montana Grassroots

-MONTANA FARMERS UNION-

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

With the New Year come challenges and opportunities.

2023 is a legislative year, and MFU will be in Helena advocating for the family farm.

This session we started out with a member Drive In on Jan. 3 that included hosting a Montanaraised lunch for legislators, staff and Ag leaders. It was an opportunity to educate decision makers about the family farm and rural Montana. We discussed issues affecting agriculture and our solutions to help keep families on the farm.

During the session, MFU will continue to advocate for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL), allowing the consumer to know where their food was raised, processed and packaged.

MFU will continue the fight for our right to repair our own farm equipment, knowing that it will be an uphill battle. The equipment manufactures claim they already do this, but, in reality, they are only selling us the right to diagnose some of the problems at a very high price and not the ability to fix most of the problems. We will work to repeal a bill passed in the last Legislature that took away local control to protect farmland.

I am not optimistic about our chances in the current legislature because even though all the democrats supported these bills, most of the republicans voted against these bills and the republicans have a super majority this session.We need your voices on why these issues matter to you more than ever (read more about how to get involved in the membership update and throughout the newsletter).

We plan to continue to educate leaders about the importance of transparency in data harvest from farmers while using precision ag technology by promoting a data harvest transparency bill.

Every season the USDA spends millions of dollars collecting information to predict farmers planting intentions, planted acres by crops and harvested yields and quality. They try to keep this information top secret until a certain date they announce their findings publicly. Meanwhile, equipment manufacturers are harvesting this same data more accurately in real time from the precision ag equipment farmers are using to spray, plant and harvest.

Even though manufacturers claim to keep an individual’s data private, they are selling the aggregated regional information to the highest bidders.

When a farmer sprays a preplant chemical, often that chemical is specific to a type of crop they plan to plant. This means harvested data reveals farmers’ planting intentions by specific regions long before the USDA “top secret” release date. Data harvested when crops are planted shows specific crops planted, by variety, and seeding rates – giving away inside information on planted acres of each commodity.

The biggest concern is at harvest time when they are harvesting real-time data on crop yield and quality. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) doesn’t enforce or recognize this as insider trader violations, so all this data is being used by a handful of investors and countries to position themselves in the commodity markets at the producers expense. This is WRONG! If they are going to harvest this data, it should be immediately released publicly, with privacy protections, in a useable format.

This would create a fairer market for all.

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

Rachel Prevost, Government Affairs Director/ Member Svcs.

Maggie Carr, Event Coordinator

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, 2022 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 submissions are requested by the 15th of every other month.

Copy Editor: Alice Miller, Jan Johnson

Winter

FUEL

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MFU Ambassador Updates Arrowpeak Summer Camps Page 10, 11

Cooperative Update Welcome New Members Page 12

MFU Afoot & Afield Page 13

Congressional Update Page 14

NFU Washington Corner Page 15

MFU Benefits from Member Input on Policy During Legislative Session, Year Round

With the Legislature convening in January one leg of MFU’s triangle enters its zenith for our state. The MFU policy book defines the issues and stances we take in Helena during our interactions with Montana’s elected officials. We annually update our policy book at convention to reflect the needs our membership. The policy committee takes its recommendations to the convention and the membership votes and comments on those recommendations. I was tasked with chairing the policy committee this year and was happy with our results. I would also like to thank the members of this year’s policy committee and the time they gave MFU.

MFU will review all proposed legislation at the legislative session and use the policy to decide our positions and advocate for the members of MFU. Legislators often are more easily persuaded by our members in person or via messaging, email, phone, etc. Please pay attention to when MFU makes us aware of issues that MFU needs extra help on and make sure to share your personal stories and positions with elected officials in Helena.

The policy committee, and therefore MFU, benefits greatly from input from all members. There will be opportunities advertised through the year for all to interact with the committee and those interactions are welcomed. If you would like to take a more active role in policy, express your interest to be on the policy committee. The committee benefits from diversity and change over in committee members.

Thanks to all involved in our policy – we will need all the help we can get in this upcoming legislative session. Please contact us with any questions and concerns on bills, and we will do our best to keep you informed on the bills of concern to you our members.

Ben Peterson

2022 MFU Policy chair

Committee members needed in new year

With the New Year upon us, the Ambassador team is going to begin doing outreach to form our 2023-24 organizational committees. If you marked you are interested in serving on a committee on your Membership Profile, our team will be reaching out to you!

If you want to serve on a committee, but are not sure if you marked that on your profile, contact your closest Ambassador! (And read

their regional updates in this Newsletter!)

The committees to be filled include: 202324 Resolutions Committee (policy formation ahead of Annual Convention), 2024 Women’s Conference Committee, and the 2023 Convention Planning Committee. We want to know what our members want to see at our events and conferences and these committees play a critical role in that.

PETERSON

MFU has money available for Montana 4-H clubs through its new $100 Sentence 4-H Grant Program!

Clubs can fill out an application with onesentence stating how they as a club would use $100.

It’s that easy! MFU has $10,000 to give away but it is first-come, first-serve, so don’t delay!

MFU Ambassadors will be reaching out with more information. To receive an application, email office@montanafarmersunion.com.

MFU & NFU Foundation Scholarship Applications Open

Applications are now open for several Montana Farmers Union scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 each.

The annual scholarships are offered through MFU to the organizations’ members as part of the organization’s commitment to education and include the Bud Daniels Memorial Scholarship, the John Korsbeck Memorial Scholarship, and the Cascade County-wide Farmers Union Local, Chouteau County Farmers Union Local and Flathead Countywide Farmers Union Local scholarships.

“Investing in education to enhance life for the individual and for the benefit of civil society is foundational to the Farmers Union mission and reflects our commitment to cooperative principles,” said Eric Bergman, who serves as president of the Cascade County-wide Local.

The scholarships are available to students throughout their collegiate careers. Current college students, non-traditional students, and high

school seniors are encouraged to apply.

Montana Farmers Union members also can apply for the Stanley Moore Scholarship, a $1,500 scholarship offered by the Farmers Union Industries Foundation.

Scholarships also are available to MFU members through the National Farmers Union Foundation and range from $1,500 to $2,000. Applications for NFU scholarships are open through April 1 and available at nfu.org/education/scholarships/.

Students have until March 15 to submit their applications for the MFU scholarships.

More information about the scholarships, as well as links to the applications, can be found at montanafarmersunion.com/education/ scholarships-grants/.

Take the 2022 Census of Agriculture

Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed survey codes to all known agriculture producers across the 50 states with an invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture at agcounts. usda.gov.

The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and territory. By completing the survey, producers across the nation can help generate impactful opportunities that better serve them and future generations.

You need only respond once, whether securely online or by mail. All responses are due Feb. 6. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2022, are included in the ag census. The data not only influence business and supply chain logistics, they inform policy and program decisions that directly impact producers, ag operations, and communities across the United States. For the latest news and updates about the Census of Agriculture, visit nass.usda.gov/ AgCensus.

The J. G. Boswell Company produces, processes, and markets crops, including safflower. The company’s in-house team of agronomists has found it to be an ideal crop for soil health, reducing soil erosion and increasing crop yield of commodities. In addition to farming operations, Boswell owns and operates an oil mill plant where oleic safflower oil is produced and sold in bulk domestically and internationally.

The J. G. Boswell company is searching for long-term opportunities to partner with Montana safflower growers!

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MFU IN

YOUR COMMUNITY... Membership updates & new benefits

RACHEL PREVOST MEMBERSHIP/GOVT. AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

The membership team has been hard at work preparing for our gatherings and events in the New Year as well as the 68th Legislative Session.

The Legislative Session is a busy and important time of year for Montana Farmers Union and our members. With legislation being one of our founding pillars, our team works diligently to represent family farmers and ranchers at the Legislature, using member-written policy to guide how we weigh in on legislative bill drafts and when talking with Montana’s lawmakers.

Our Government Affairs team will be hard at work this session, along with our ambassadors who will be working on outreach to members interested in testifying, contacting their legislators on MFU priority bills to tell their story, and letting them know how you would like them to vote on a bill.

If you are new to policy and/or

just want to learn more about how the Legislative Session works, let our ambassadors know.

They are more than happy to walk you through how to contact your legislators and can provide you with materials, talking points, and effective citizen lobbying tools to help you feel confident in those conversations.

At the 2022 convention, the MFU membership identified Food Security, Health care, Competition, Water and Land Use, and Climate Resiliency as priorities.

For the legislative session, MFU will be working on the following priorities: Right to Repair, Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), Data Harvest, restoring local control to protect farm and ag land, and support Montana local foods.

It’s essential that our elected officials hear from family farmers and ranchers this session as their constituents through accurate

and personalized emails, phone calls, and messages with your stories. Those interested in assisting with testimony and legislator outreach will be part of the Montana Farmers Union Capitol Club.

Please be on the lookout for Legislative updates and more news through the following channels: MFU will be hosting live Zoom sessions to be streamed on Facebook every Thursday evening at 7 throughout the session for our members to join in and hear a review of the legislative week and a preview of the week to come. We will be sending weekly mail and email bill updates, and tracking priority bill updates on the MFU website. You can find more information about MFU priorities and the 2023 Policy Book on the website as well.

Let myself or MFU’s new lobbyist, Jasmine Krotkov, know what’s important to you or if you would like to testify by email at either rprevost@

montanafarmersunion. com or jkrotkov@ montanafarmersunion.com.

In Membership information, don’t forget this Holiday Season to take advantage of all the great retail and travel discounts your MFU membership provides, including hotel and rental car discounts.

If you have questions or trouble accessing those discounts, please call our office at 406-452-6406 or send me an email at rprevost@ montanafarmersunion.com.

Please be on the lookout for Legislative updates, news, and more from Montana Farmers Union in the upcoming months. Our rural communities depend on us telling our stories, and I look forward to hearing from members this session and working with the legislators of the 68th session!

May your holiday season be merry and bright, happy, healthy, and full of lots of snow and moisture! Happy New Year!

Learn more about member benefits at montanafarmersunion.com:

Special rates on hotels and car rentals through MFU

Discounts with nation-wide brands through National Farmers Union: AVIS LaQuita Wyndham Hotel group & more!

Member benefits can help you get there.

prohibitive start-up costs keeping Charlotte and Edward from jumping back into farming – even though the idea appeals to them.

Kelly remembers her grandparents and parents attending MFU meetings when she was a child, but she wasn’t actively involved personally until her sons attended MFU day camp and Arrowpeak summer camp programs.

“My kids are on the edges of farming, so camp for them was a huge introduction to the cooperative principle,” Kelly said.

Not only did her sons learn about cooperatives, but they also learned about agriculture and leadership and made lifelong friends during their years at MFU camps.

“If you talk to any of the boys, they always say it’s like another family,” Kelly said.

The camps made such an impact on her sons, that Kelly now runs an annual day camp in Chester to continue the positive experience with agriculture for kids.The camp focuses on local Ag production, as well as civic involvement, natural

resources and cooperatives.

“I think these kids need to know where their food comes from and the fact that when you buy a fivedollar box of cereal, that doesn’t mean the farmer gets the whole five dollars,” Kelly said. (If you’re curious, farmers receive 10 cents of an 18 ounce box of cereal retailing at $3.49, according the National Agricultural Statistics Service.)

For the past decade, in addition to the youth camp, Kelly looks forward to an annual “camp” of her own – the Women’s Conference. The first year she attended, it was meant to be a relaxing break from the cold North Central plains, but it quickly became about community.

Kelly sits on the event’s planning committee and said she brings a different perspective because she’s not actively farming. She admitted that at first she had imposter syndrome because she wasn’t as involved in agriculture as many other attendees. However, she quickly got over it.

“These women who come, they

FUEL Cohort Members Announced

Four Montana Farmers Union members have been announced as the 2023 Cohort for the Farmers Union Enterprises Leadership Program.

Cole Kleinert from Sunburst, Ali Moxley from Bozeman, and Cody and Michelle Math from Whitewater will represent MFU during the year-long program.

“I am proud of the MFU members who we will be sending to the 2023 FUEL program. They come from diverse backgrounds and will add value to this year’s program. This program was created to help cultivate our leaders for the future and has been a successful program, as several MFU board members, my wife and I, NFU’s VP and several other states’ presidents

don’t make you stand on the outside,” she said.

The conference focuses on building community and personal development and has taught Kelly lots over the years, but, more importantly, has forged friendships

Each year, she delights in seeing familiar faces and hearing more women’s stories.

“You realize it’s a bigger picture, and it’s awesome. It’s worth becoming involved in to make

sure it continues,” Kelly said.

“The more we get women from all across the state, the more we can share and become a stronger network,” she added.

Kelly encouraged women to attend this year’s 10th anniversary conference.

“Even if you come home with one thing that clicks with you, it’s worth it – and just the whole sisterhood thing,” Kelly said. “And who doesn’t want to go sit in a

have gone through the program,” MFU President Walter Schweitzer said.

The Farmers Union Enterprises Leadership program is intended to empower future leaders in the Farmers Union Enterprise states of North Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.

Each year, four members from each state are selected to represent their state organization in the program. The group receives handson learning experiences to enhance their knowledge of cooperatives and the roles that Farmers Union plays, as well as immerse in concepts ranging from emotional intelligence and conflict resolution to public speaking and how to have a lasting impact in their

communities.

“Being a new member of Farmers Union, I am very interested in becoming more involved and having my voice heard to make the future of Montana agriculture better,” Kleinert said.

Moxley said she is looking forward to learning more ways to influence food policy.

“Oftentimes USDA funding doesn’t address the most relevant financial challenges that farmers in my area are facing. The FUEL program will provide me with tangible steps to influence food policy,” she said.

To learn more about FUEL, visit www. montanafarmersunion.com.

-MONTANA FARMERS UNION-

Kelly holds a photo of her grandmother in her home against a backdrop of family photos. Her grandmother used to tell her stories of farmlife, inluding about how she would travel on horseback to let neighbors know when Farmers Union meetings would be held.

Montana Grassroots

10-12,

Hot Springs Join us for the 10th Annual Women’s Conference! We’re bringing back some familiar faces from over the years to celebrate, as well as new speakers and formats, and the same great atmosphere that makes this event so special. This year we have some exciting new add-ons: An organizational team-building workshop and professional headshots!

Don’t miss the opportunity to gather this winter!

closes Jan.

Krotkov Assumes MFU Lobbyist Role

Jasmine Krotkov started in agriculture by studying Agro Ecology in college. Later she started an organic gardening business in California, where she became a Master Gardener and worked as a horticultural advisor with the Cooperative Extension.

She came to Montana in 1995 with the US Postal Service, and carried on gardening as a side hustle. In Great Falls she designed and installed landscape gardens for the Milwaukee Depot, the Paris Gibson Square Museum and many other public and private customers. While serving as Postmaster in

“Grit in the Blood” with Courtney Kibblewhite

“Waves of Change”: Youth Leadership Development The art of storytelling, workshops & more!

at MontanaFarmersUnion.com.

Neihart, Krotkov built an underground home and continues to develop a permaculture homestead there. As a postmaster she served as the Editor for the National Association of Postmasters and spent time each year lobbying Congress to support small post offices and the communities which rely on them.

After retiring, she served as a Representative in the Montana State Legislature.

At Montana Farmers Union, Krotkov is excited to continue advocating for rural communities.

Reach Krotkov at jkrotkov@ montanafarmersunion.com and learn more about MFU’s currentl legislative priorities at www.montanafarmersunion.com.

Making sure you’re protected through all lines of insurances

Call Kyle Tschetter today: (406) 836-7261.

Find Tschetter Agency on Facebook!

KROTKOV

Keynote Speaker: Courtney Kibblewhite

COOL: Montana Farmers Union urges Country of Origin labeling of all agricultural commodities and processed food products sold in the U.S.

Data Harvest: Montana Farmers Union holds that farmers have the right to opt out of data harvest and all harvested data should have strict oversight. All data collected on an agricultural operation is the exclusive property of the operation.

Support of local and regional food systems and purchasing/ local use of Montana foods: Access to affordable, quality food is a basic human right. Montana Farmers Union promotes resilient regional food systems and diverse markets.

MEMBER INPUT CRUCIAL

While MFU’s Director of Government Affairs Rachel Prevost and other MFU staff lobby in Helena, member voices are crucial to the process. To get involved, reach out to your local ambassador or Prevost at www. montanafarmersunion.com.

Montana Grassroots

-MONTANA FARMERS UNION-

“Accurate, concise and respectful of time are three things that are good tactics for effective lobbying,” Prevost said.

Personalized contact is most effective, and members can drop in to see their legislators if they find themselves in Helena.

“Legislators are most likely to make time for conversation when you’re there in person, and you can make a real impact and use your voice for agriculture,” Prevost said.

“The direct opportunity to talk to them, regardless of the outcome of your priority, is very much worth the effort. And it’s good leadership in general for your community and the family farm industry,” she added.

HOW DO I FIND MY LEGISLATORS?

You can find your legislators at: www.leg.mt.gov/legislatorlookup/ and members of various committees at www.leg.mt.gov/ committees/.

WHO IS ON THE AG COMMITTEES?

Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee to meet 3 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, Room 335: Mike Lang (R) - chair, Bruce Gillespie (R) Vice Chair, Susan Webber (D) Vice Chair, Dan Bartel (R), Ellie Boldman (D), Dennis Lenz (R), Wendy McKamey (R), Shane Morigeau (D), Shannon O’Brien (D), Daniel Salomon (R), Jeff Welborn (R), Secretary: Cy Walsh, Rm 65

House Agriculture Committee to meet at 3 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 137: Josh Kassmier, Josh (R) Chair, Marty Malone (R) Vice Chair, Marvin Weatherwax (D) Vice Chair, Fred Anderson (R), Brad Barker (R), Becky Beard (R), James Bergstrom (R), Tony Brockman (R), Bob Carter (D), Julie Dooling (R), Dave Fern (D), Paul Green (R), Greg Kmetz (R), Casey Knudsen (R), Braxton Mitchell (R), Melissa Romano (D), Frank Smith (D), Katie Sullivan (D), Kenneth Walsh (R), Clerk: Rosemary Harmon, Rm 451

HOW DO I STAY UPDATED?

Stay tuned for weekly legislative updates via Facebook Live, the Boot Up, and member emails.

Also, check out the Legislative Dashboard available at www. montanafarmersunion.com.

Prevost encouraged members to get involved throughout the year through MFU policy work, the National Farmers Union Fly-In and other MFU committees.

“Montana’s family farmers,ranchers, and our rural communities are the backbone of our state. To ensure that those voices are always heard, and that we keep agriculture at the top of the conversation, family farmers, ranchers, and all who live in rural areas need to tell their stories, communicate with their State Senators and Representatives, and get engaged in the legislative process,” Prevost said. “What happens at the legislature has a direct impact on our rural communities and all the services they provide, which we want to be sustainable and successful for generations to come.”

MFU AMBASSADOR UPDATES

Central Montana Mary Jenni

Did you hear the Department of Agriculture is outlawing round bales of hay!?!? They claimed cows were not getting a square meal.

As your newest Ambassador, having started in November, I am excited to be a part of Montana Farmers Union. I’m enrolled in Montana Farm to School training with one session left to complete. Putting local, quality food into school systems is something I want to help producers do, and this class teaches the process.

Since November, I have attended the Fergus County Livestock Association Annual Banquet, the Grand Opening of the Montana Premium Processing Co-op, and the Wool Growers Annual Convention. My short-term goal is to call our members, and reach out to the extension agents, 4-H leaders, and Ag educators in my five-county region by year end.

Looking forward to the New Year and working with everyone!

Greater Yellowstone Skylar Williams

Seasons Greetings!

With the end of the year approaching and wrapping up the events in Yellowstone County such as Wool Growers Association, Montana Organic Association, and Montana Stock Growers Association,

I’m hoping everyone is getting some much needed R&R while enjoying some hot cocoa.

With the new year coming up, we also have new events to look forward to like the Helena Legislative Drive-In and Winter Rendezvous here in Billings this February.

I’m hoping to see many familiar faces in the New Year!

Golden Triangle Area Gwyneth Givens

I am excited about what 2023 has in store, including attending my first MFU Women’s Conference in February! The National Farmers Union Women’s Conference in Nashville this fall was a fantastic experience. I can’t say how much I have appreciated getting to know the ladies of Farmers Union.

I will be working with members in Choteau County to help get their local chapter up and running again in the new year.

We had a successful first meeting in Chester to form the Hi-Line Local, which includes Toole and Liberty counties.

Officers elected are: John Wicks, president; Gary Blonde, vice president; and Charlotte Kelly, secretary/treasurer.

I hope everyone has a joy-filled holiday season, and may the moisture keep coming! Cheers to a snow-covered Christmas.

SUMMER CAMP DATES, JOB OPPORTUNITIES ANNOUNCED

Mark your calendars for a fun summer of learning about agriculture and cooperatives while building leadership skills with Montana Farmers Union!

Arrowpeak Camp dates are:

Junior 1 Camp (Ages 8-12): June 18-22

Senior/Teen 1 Camp (Ages 13-17): July 9-14

Teen 2 Camp (Ages 12-15): July 16-21

Junior 2 (Ages 8-12): July 23-27

Mini-Junior (Ages 7-9): July 30 – Aug 1

Each full camp costs $100/members and $150 for non-members. Mini Junior camp costs $75/members and $125/non-members. Registration opens April 18 and will be available at www.montanafarmersunion. com.

To become an MFU member or renew your annual $50 membership, contact mfu@montanafarmersunion.com.

Direct camp questions to camp@montanafarmersunion.com.

In preparation of the camp season, MFU is hiring summer camp counselors, who will serve as the primary point of contact for campers at Montana Farmers Union Camp. Counselors will be responsible for planning, teaching, coordinating and carrying out activities and guiding campers in their personal growth and daily living skills.

MFU also is hiring a Youth Camp Coordinator, who will be the frontline of camp fun, planning and executing the MFU Youth Summer camp program for campers.This is a seasonal position, but with opportunities for growth.

Staff Training will be June 8-13.

To learn more or apply, go to

https://montanafarmersunion.com/ employment/.

Montana Grassroots

Flathead Local Carissa McNamara

I recently had the opportunity to help my 10-year-old son with a 4-H speech about “Opportunity for All.”

My son said opportunity is a gift, but only people who know how to use it get it.

Me: So, is opportunity inherent or created?

Son: Created.

Me: How?

Son: Well, just by being in the room and showing up, and don’t quit before you try. Just do it. Trust others. Trust yourself. Besides mom, my friends will help me.

I immediately thought of every day behind the scenes at Montana Farmers Union, where so many opportunities are created, and everyone works around the clock to make them available.

It’s 2023, and an excellent time to take the opportunity to join us in the room! The calendar is building: Local meetings, committees, women’s conference, youth camps, convention and more!

Looking forward to seeing you in the room!

Read the whole conversation at http:// montanafarmersunion.com/opportunity-forall/.

Headwaters Area

Samantha Ferrat

As an MFU member, there are many opportunities to represent Montana at the state and national levels with continuing education events, leadership development trainings, and advocacy efforts. MFU is a great place to grow and thrive personally and professionally to make a difference in your community.

Recently, I attended National Farmers Union Women’s Conference in Nashville, TN. It was an inspiring event, where we learned from women in agriculture about successful cooperative business entities and how to strategically tell ‘your story’ to advocate for agriculture. Shortly after, I represented MFU at the Montana Ag Expo Career Fair held in Bozeman. I was in my element chatting with FFA youth about the importance of being involved and advocating for family farmers and ranchers. It must have hit home for several FFA members, as they promptly joined our MFU family!

I will be doing outreach soon to members interested in serving on committees and testifying at the legislature. A youth leadership series, as well as a Women in Ag lunch series are in the development stages – stayed tuned for updates!

Wishing you peace and happiness this holiday season and a prosperous new year!

Southeast Montana Eleanor Ferrone Dutton

I am really looking forward to a white Christmas, as I am pretty sure the snow we already have in Forsyth won’t be going anywhere! Looking at early 2023, I have organized some of my priorities:

• assist our legislative team in keeping up to date with and tracking this legislative session

• coordinate with SE Abundant Montana to help connect producers and schools with Farm to School opportunities

• reach out to Miles Community College and connect students in the Ag Department with Farmers Union resources and brainstorm opportunities

• continue membership outreach and hear directly from SE members.

In addition to all that, I got married and will be changing my last name to Dutton. So if you hear from an Eleanor Dutton, I promise you it isn’t a scam!

Merry Christmas!

Reach out to the nearest MFU Ambassador to find out how to get involved in your community: Carissa McNamara, Flathead Area cmcnamara@montanafarmersunion.com

Samantha Ferrat, Missouri Headwaters Area sferrat@montanafarmersunion.com

Gwyneth Givens, Golden Triangle Area ggivens@montanafarmersunion.com

Eleanor Dutton, Southeast Montana eferrone@montanafarmersunion.com

Skylar Williams, Greater Yellowstone swilliams@montanafarmersunion.com

Mary Jenni, Central Montana mjenni@montanafarmersunion.com

Rachel Prevost, State Office Membership Director rprevost@montanafarmersunion.com

Montana Farmers Union Ambassadors Eleanor Ferrone Dutton, left, and Skylar Williams attended the Montana Organics Association’s annual conference in Billings.

Montana Farmers Union Ambassador Gwyneth Givens holds down the MFU booth during Montana Grain Growers convention.

COOPERATIVE UPDATE

The year rounded out with a flurry of activity at Montana Premium Processing Cooperative, with the facility garnering national praise and nearly $292,000 in grant funding as it prepares to begin processing beef, pork, lamb and bison in the coming months.

In early November, it was announced that the meat processing facility received nearly $292,000 in Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program funding.

“It is a great thing for rural communities across America,” MFU Chief of Staff Matt Rains said about the grant funding, adding he’s thankful for the funding and what it means for MPPC but also for increasing the resiliency of the local food system.

During an onsite visit in November, FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux praised the facility, saying he’s pleased to see the community coming together with a shared vision to create the co-op.

“This project is exactly what we need more of,” Ducheneaux said.

Later in November, the co-op celebrated the facility’s progress with well-attended public

tours and a member meeting to celebrate the facility’s Grand Opening and give updates on the project.

MPPC membership held board member elections during November’s meeting. The membership elects board members from within their numbers to oversee the operation and maintain an expectation of excellence.

MPPC is excited to announce its newest board member is Casey Buffington, a fourthgeneration rancher for Basin Coulee Cattle Company near Chester. The position was effective Jan. 1. In addition, Ben Peterson and Eric Bergman were unanimously re-elected to their current board seats. MPPC has a rotating Board of Directors with at least two seats up for election every year.

“It is my passion for agriculture and for protecting my family’s ranching legacy that motivates me to face the challenges ranchers combat each day and to actively pursue solution sand opportunities such as this one,” Buffington said in his bio to voting members.

“MPPC’s mission aligns closely with Casey Buffington’s family ranch and retail business.

Welcome New Members!

Recruited by:

Christopher Boysun, Culbertson Matt Stentoft

Neiman Family Trust, Forsyth Ron & Blayne Watts

Tim & Joni Draine, Biddle

Jesse Fleming

Mike & Nicole Hofmann, Shepherd K J Fauth

Gary & Patricia Lofing, Columbus K J Fauth

Gary Enneberg, Cut Bank Alex Thornton

Quail Haven Farms LLC, Vancouver WA Alex Thornton

Matt & Brianna Sims, Malta Alex Thornton

McClendon Grain & Cattle Co., Rudyard Alissa McClendon Ross & Cole Schwend, Bridger Wes Schwend

Green Ranch, Hardin Melissa Wacker

Robert & Sally Hagedorn, Volborg Melissa Wacker Eric & Sarah LaFontaine, Hardin Melissa Wacker

Tim McKenzie, Billings

He will be a great guiding voice as the cooperative pushes through its growth phase into steady operations. He will also be vital in helping guide the expansion of MPPC as it looks to duplicate the footprint in Havre across Montana,” MFU Chief of Staff Matt Rains said.

As the facility nears completion, owners are excited to start scheduling their animals. By joining the cooperative, member/owners are guaranteed “first rights” to hook space scheduling. For Montana ranchers looking to start retailing their own product direct-toconsumer, a reliable processing facility is vital for their supply.

To learn more, visit mtpremiumprocessing.com.

Melissa Wacker

Russell & Ronda Snively, Pompeys Pillar Melissa Wacker

Guy & Wanda Zink, Hardin

Melissa Wacker Tamara Lorenz

Judd Long

Frances Hawks, Chester Korey Fauque

Glenda Love, Manhattan Rial Gunlikson

Douglas Kettle, Noxon

Greg & Pamela Watne, Proctor

Clouse Property LLC, Missoula

Skylar Williams, Billings

Lisa French

Andrew Luedtke

Andre Marcure

MFU Office

Colter & Lauren Darlington, Big Sandy MFU Office

Drew Blankenbaker, Hamilton MFU Office

Jackson Newman, Billings

Skylar Williams

Kenneth Snyder, Joplin Greenhouse & Gardens, Joplin Jed Didier Jasmine Krotkov, Neihart Rachel Prevost

MFU AFOOT & AFIELD

The MFU Teton County Local recently donated ag-related books to eight Teton County public schools and the city/county libraries in Choteau, Dutton and Fairfield. Teton Local President Erik Somerfeld told the Choteau Acantha that the Local members wanted to provide children in kindergarten through first grade with age-appropriate books that portray agriculture realistically.

Out and about? Have news? Send us your photos to be featured in this member news section! Submit your photo and caption to communications@montanafarmersunion.com.

FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux joined MFU and MPPC leaders, Kathleen Williams and Maureen Wicks for a tour of Montana Premium Processing Cooperative. Ducheneaux praised the project, saying more like it are needed to address industry consolidation and meat processing capacity.

Montana Grassroots

NEWS FROM THE HILL

As we look ahead to the new Congress, I’m looking forward to working with the Montana Farmers Union on the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill and ensuring the priorities of hardworking Montana farmers and ranchers are included.

This past year, Montana farmers and ranchers were impacted by several disasters including wildfires and severe drought conditions that continue to threaten their livelihoods. That’s why I have been leading efforts to push for much-needed drought relief and assistance for Montana ag, and will work to ensure the Farm Bill strengthens crop insurance and disaster relief programs.

Another priority I’ll work to include in the Farm Bill is improved broadband access for

Montana farmers and ranchers. Reliable broadband connectivity will help level the playing field for rural Montana and give folks better access to markets not only in the United States, but around the world. It will also better equip them to continue to increase efficiency and feed Montana’s growing population.

Additionally, I hope to see this bill bolster ag research and ensure conservation programs work for Montana and production agriculture.

As your voice in the United States Senate, I look forward to working with Montana farmers and ranchers to ensure the 2023 Farm Bill has the best interests of Montana ag.

The lack of competition in the meat processing industry is hurting Montana’s ranchers.

With the four big packers controlling north of 85% of the industry, producers are getting ripped off, and consumers are paying higher prices at the meat counter.

If we want to ensure that Montana’s producers and consumers are both getting a fair shake, it’s critical we do two things:

1. Pass my bipartisan cattle bills to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act, and increase transparency in the market; and

2. Get more independent meat processors in the Treasure State.

Passing these bipartisan bills will be my top priority in the upcoming Congress, but just last month we got great news on the meat processing front.

With MFU’s leadership, and as a direct result of my American Rescue Plan, we were able to

secure $291,900 from the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) for the Montana Premium Processing Cooperative (MPPC) in Havre.

This funding will allow the MPPC to provide independent producers an option for a local USDA inspected meat processing facility instead of forcing our producers to play ball with the big packers. The project will not only increase meat processing capacity in Montana, but it will also help train a new generation of meat cutters.

By cutting out middlemen, the MPPC will give Montana’s producers better margins on their premium product, and should give consumers better prices on the best beef in the world.

Capitalism only works when there’s competition, and investing in Montana small businesses is the best way to improve competition in the marketplace.

Together, we’ll continue to strengthen food systems in the west and ensure that our small and medium sized producers remain strong.

Steve Daines, U.S. Senator Jon Tester, U.S. Senator

The end of an even-numbered year means it is a busy time on Capitol Hill, as the biennial “lame duck” session of Congress tries to wrap up legislative activities before newly elected lawmakers take office in January. NFU is making a push to get some Fairness for Farmers legislation (Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act and Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act) across the finish line, as well as reforms to ag workforce and providing for year-round E15 sales.

CONGRESS AVERTS RAIL STRIKE

On Sept. 15, the Biden Administration facilitated a tentative agreement between the nation’s freight rail companies and the major railroad worker unions, which was believed would be enough to avoid a strike from rail workers. The deal was announced the day after Farmers Union members met with White House staff to discuss the devastating effects a rail strike could have on farmers, the food supply chain, and the economy altogether.

The agreement increased worker wages by 24 percent over five years, dating back to 2020, capped worker health insurance premiums, and provided workers the right to take unpaid time off without penalty – key word,“unpaid.” When the agreement went before each union’s membership over the next several months, four of the groups rejected the tentative agreement – the sticking point being the lack of paid sick leave. The other eight unions whose members voted to ratify announced they would not cross picket lines, meaning the strike was imminent.

Congress gave itself authority to end rail strikes back in the early 20th century, and as the December 9 deadline approached, calls grew for Congress to intervene. On

December 1, the U.S. House voted to ratify the tentative agreement (which makes a strike unlawful), but immediately followed up with an amendment to provide rail workers with seven days of paid sick leave. This additional provision passed the House largely along party lines, with all Democrats and three Republicans voting in favor.

The Senate acted the following day on the tentative agreement, which passed by a wide margin. The Senate also considered the paid sick leave amendment from the House, but it did not receive the 60 favorable votes needed to break the filibuster. President Biden signed the agreement shortly thereafter.

NFU OPPOSES KROGERALBERTSONS MEGRER

In October, two grocery giants – Kroger and Albertsons –announced they had reached a deal to merge, with Kroger acquiring all outstanding shares of Albertsons. The combined enterprise’s total value is estimated to be approximately $25 billion. This action represents another disturbing example of corporate consolidation in America’s food supply chain.

NFU joined a coalition letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan urging the FTC to block the merger. NFU, and our coalition partners, share deep concerns about the impacts the acquisition could have on America’s producers, retail workers, and consumers. Should the deal be allowed to proceed, it would lead to the creation of a grocery empire to rival only Walmart, providing enormous amounts of market power to just two companies. This acquisition will result in reduced market access and consumer buying power, reduced bargaining power

for labor and lower wages, the driving out of independent grocers, and the continued lowering of the farmers’ and workers’ share of the food dollar, at a time when corporations are enjoying record profits.

The deal has already faced significant legal scrutiny which is expected to intensify as the merger approval process commences. On November 10, the FTC released a major policy statement renewing its commitment to fully enforce against “unfair methods of competition” under Section 5 of the FTC Act.

The statement clarifies “that Section 5 reaches beyond the Sherman and Clayton Acts to encompass various types of unfair conduct that tend to negatively affect competitive conditions.” In short, Section 5 of the FTC act extends even further than the major antitrust laws to address issues that can result in anticompetitive harm.

The policy statement affirms a significant shift in emphasis and direction at the agency, and NFU is pleased to see the FTC taking a macro-level approach to protecting competition in the economy.

BIOFUELS SPOTLIGHT: RFS OBLIGATIONS, CANOLA APPROVAL, YEAR-ROUND E15

The first week of December was a busy one for biofuels in Washington,with several legislative and regulatory developments that will have major implications for biofuel production for years to come. On December 1, the EPA announced their updated renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which will raise RVOs for ethanol blends for the

2023, 2024, and 2025 reporting years.

On the same day, the EPA also released a final rule to approve RFS pathways for canola oil for renewable diesel, jet fuel naphtha, liquified petroleum gas, and heating oil. NFU and state divisions have been working diligently to help develop a pathway for canola to be used as a feedstock for biodiesel.

Back in April, the EPA published a proposed rule to create the canola oil fuel pathways, which finds that the fuel pathways meet the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction threshold of 50 percent required to generate advanced biofuels and biomassbased diesel under the RFS. The EPA has finalized this proposal into the final rule for canola/rapeseed oil production via a hydrotreating process. The enactment of this rule will result in greater market opportunities and much-needed regulatory certainty for farmers.

NFU has been busy working with a diverse group of renewable fuel and petroleum organizations to urge Congress to provide a legislative fix that would apply the same fuel volatility limits to all conventional gasoline blends. On November 29, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022, with 14 cosponsors. The legislation will the enable yearround, nationwide sale of E15 and permanently extend the Reid vapor pressure volatility waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent, providing nationwide uniformity across U.S. fuel markets. While chances of passage during lame duck are slim, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA, a cosponsor) recently suggested the new Congress could take up the legislation if this Congress does not.

Anaconda

Stefanie Thompson

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