Tag: Agriculture

Daines Secures $19 Billion for Ag, Including Livestock, Specialty Crop Producers During Coronavirus Outbreak

U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that USDA will be providing $19 billion in assistance for farmers and ranchers hurting from challenging market conditions due to the Coronavirus pandemic through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Part of the funding will go to help Montana’s cattle producers who have seen a drastic decline in cattle markets during the pandemic. This follows Daines’ request earlier this month to USDA Secretary Perdue urging immediate action for Montana’s ranchers. “Montana farmers and ranchers drive our economy and feed not only America, but the world,” Daines said. “During this Coronavirus pandemic, the

Daines Successfully Pushes for MT Ag Producers to be Eligible for Coronavirus Small Business Loans

U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana’s farmers and ranchers will be eligible for the Paycheck Protections Program (PPP), which provides $350 billion in loans and grants to small businesses impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic if they maintain or rehire their employees. This announcement follows Daines’ push to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure ag businesses are eligible for Coronavirus relief loans. “Montana farmers and ranchers are facing tough challenges and hardships because of the Coronavirus pandemic,” Daines said. “It is only right that our Ag producers have the same access to relief that was secured

Daines: Keep Montana Ports of Entry Open During Coronavirus Pandemic for Montana Ag, Trade

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan to consider the impact of the proposed temporary reduction of hours at a number of Montana Ports of Entry on Montana ag and Montana’s rural communities. “While reducing non-essential travel is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting public health, a reduction in hours at these critical ports would harm our farmers and ranchers and disrupt essential services and commerce for the Montana communities that rely upon these ports,” Daines wrote. “I urge you to take into account the

Daines Announces Expanded SNAP Benefits for Montana Families During Coronavirus Pandemic

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that SNAP benefits will be increased for Montana families during the Coronavirus pandemic. “This is about delivering relief for families struggling during the Coronavirus pandemic and I will continue working to ensure that Montanans have access to the resources they need during this crisis,” Daines said. Montana being eligible for SNAP Emergency Allotments means that all SNAP recipients in Montana would now be eligible to receive the maximum SNAP benefits by household size per month. To see the maximum SNAP benefits, click HERE. Background:    Daines has been leading the efforts

Daines Urges SBA to Ensure That Ag Businesses Receive Coronavirus Relief Funding

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that agricultural businesses are eligible for Coronavirus relief programs. “Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses in Montana and across the country are facing substantial market challenges due to the pandemic,” Daines wrote. “Small businesses, whether they are involved in agriculture or otherwise, need assistance in these unprecedented times and SBA can play an integral role in mitigating disruptions to our nation’s food supply and our economy more broadly.”   To read the full letter, click HERE.  Background:    Daines has been leading the efforts in Congress

Daines Urges USDA to Provide Immediate Assistance to Cattle Producers

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting immediate assistance to cattle producers during the Coronavirus pandemic. “The COVID-19 outbreak has demonstrated the need for domestic food security,” Daines wrote. “All farmers and ranchers are vital to our country’s ability to keep food on the table in a future pandemic or related crisis, and many producers, including young producers, are often highly leveraged and cannot fall back on years of equity in a time of crisis. As such, we urge you to quickly deliver relief to producers

Daines Calls On DOJ to Investigate Price-Fixing, Market Manipulation Within Cattle Market and Meatpacking Industry

U.S. SENATE – Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the ongoing allegations of price-fixing and market manipulation within the cattle market and the beef meatpacking industry.  “At a time when cattle producers are seeing record losses and bankruptcies, now exacerbated by the COVID-19, compared to the shelf price of meat at record highs – these margins fail to make sense. We ask that the Department of Justice Antitrust Division evaluate these dual concerns thoroughly and expeditiously in order to protect the integrity of America’s failing beef industry,” Daines wrote. 

Pulse Growers Hopeful Trade Resumes with India

An ongoing trade war with India has caused market prices for peas, lentils and chickpeas to crash. But, pulse growers remain hopeful that recent efforts with India will help secure this important export market again. India is the world’s largest consumer of pulse crops, contributing to approximately 27 percent of the world’s consumption. And for Montana pulse growers like Jillien Streit from Chester losing this important export market as hurt their bottom line. “The U.S. market value to India for lentils, dry peas and chickpeas dropped 86 percent from the year 2016-17 to 2018-19” said Streit. “Our prices have plummeted

Daines Stresses Serious Concerns with USDA’s Decision to Lift Brazilian Beef Ban

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today expressed serious concerns with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) decision to lift its ban on Brazilian raw beef imports. Daines stressed the decision could put food safety standards at risk and questioned how USDA would monitor beef imports from Brazil moving forward. “In 2017, USDA FSIS refused entry to approximately 2 million pounds of beef from Brazil and subsequently announced the suspension of all imports of fresh beef from Brazil due to public health concerns, poor sanitary conditions, and animal health issues,” Daines wrote. “Given that the United States halted

Daines Urges President Trump to Secure Greater Opportunities for Montana Pulse Crop Farmers in India

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines wrote a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to fight for favorable pulse crop provisions during ongoing trade negotiations with India. Montana is the number one producer of pulse crops in the United States. “The most commonly consumed pulse crops in India are lentils, chickpeas, dried beans, and peas, yet the Republic of India has levied substantial tariffs on American pulse crops,” Daines wrote. “Engaging Prime Minister Modi on pulse crop tariffs as part of larger discussions to enhance the economic cooperation between our countries would be mutually beneficial to American producers