In The News

Brucellosis research will expand to outdoor settings in the greater Yellowstone area, the United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday. USDA under secretary Greg Ibach announced the new research projects in front of stacks of hay at a ranch north of Belgrade. Ibach said the new testing guidelines will help the effort to eliminate brucellosis from the United States. “This policy change will allow us to manage it and provide oversight in the research projects and be able to start the march to a solution,” Ibach said. About two decades ago, Ibach said, outdoor research on brucellosis stopped because of

MISSOULA, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines will be hosting a roundtable Thursday with Attorney General Fox to discuss the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court with Montana women civic and business leaders. The event will take place at a Kalispell law firm at 2:30 p.m.

GLACIER COUNTY — With the sun shining on the Milk River, a ribbon was cut Thursday to mark the official completion of the Milk River Project. “This is a huge celebration for everyone,” said Jennifer Patrick, the Milk River Joint Board of Control program manager. The project, which cost about $8 million dollars, rebuilt the fifth drop in a canal that carries water from the St. Mary River into the Milk River. The drop collapsed in May, leaving the more than 100,000 people who rely on the river for water without a sustainable source of water. “We have storage facilities.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines met with a group of Sidney farmers and ranchers, irrigation district experts, county officials and supporters near the banks of the Yellowstone River on October 14. Sen. Daines, popular among Richland County Republicans, is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate against Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat whose presence was felt at the Yellowstone River event. Everyone was wearing facemasks as a precaution against COVID-19, and the temperature was frigid as a Pacific Northwest cold front began moving into eastern Montana. Despite the cold temperatures, less-than-popular facemasks and biting wind, Sen. Daines was all smiles by

GLACIER COUNTY — With the sun shining on the Milk River, a ribbon was cut Thursday to mark the official completion of the Milk River Project. “This is a huge celebration for everyone,” said Jennifer Patrick, the Milk River Joint Board of Control program manager. The project, which cost about $8 million dollars, rebuilt the fifth drop in a canal that carries water from the St. Mary River into the Milk River. The drop collapsed in May, leaving the more than 100,000 people who rely on the river for water without a sustainable source of water. “We have storage facilities.

U.S. Senator Steve Daines led a meeting with Montana Attorney General Tim Fox and other local leaders Thursday, discussing the importance of confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Daines spoke about his own meeting with Judge Barrett on October 1st, and how they discussed the importance of several issues, including the Second Amendment and Montana jobs. Local leaders, including female business owners, stressed the importance of Judge Barrett’s commitment to the Constitution. They also talked about Judge Barrett’s role as a wife and mother, as well as a judge.

MONTANA — On Wednesday, USDA Undersecretary Greg Ibach along with U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced the USDA is continuing research on brucellosis in Montana. The infectious disease can severely harm cattle and wildlife. Ibach said it has been eliminated in all other parts of the state except in the Yellowstone area. “It’s going to take some time to be able to find the right research project, the most efficacious way to deliver the vaccine either orally or through other methods that we might could use in wildlife, so I don’t expect this in a year or maybe even two. This

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Wednesday morning in Belgrade, USDA undersecretary Greg Ibach spoke with Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte. Ibach announced new outdoor testing for studying brucellosis, a disease in livestock and wildlife. He said brucellosis is an issue affecting Montana cattle producers. Ibach said the new research will not only help Montanans but cattle producers across the U.S. “I don’t expect this to happen in a year or maybe even two — this is something that’s going to take some time,” he said. Ibach said he’s hopeful this new way of studying brucellosis will lead to a vaccine

BELGRADE – U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, along with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), released new brucellosis testing guidelines at a ranch in Belgrade Wednesday. The new testing guidelines are a push to support Montana ranchers and agriculture by expanding research and improving strategies to wipe out and decrease the effects of brucellosis, according to a release from Sen. Daines’ Office. Sen. Daines’ Office’s release says prior to the new testing guidelines, researchers ability to study the disease on livestock and wildlife were restricted because they could only examine infected animals in an enclosed indoor space. Montana agriculture leaders including