Their work has built Montana’s economy and preserved a way of life that still defines our state today.
But with the ground cracking underneath us, we are reminded of how fragile this way of life is.
As they have supported us, we must support them.
I was pleased by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to allow impacted producers to utilize Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage for grazing, but I believe the conditions in Montana justify additional relief.
And recently, USDA has announced several additional flexibilities to make it easier to send livestock elsewhere for water and feed, gain access to emergency loan programs and provide for limited haying on CRP acreage, including sending folks to help ensure that Montanans who need assistance can access it.
Standing in fields that won’t be harvested, watching cattle being moved from field to field, these are the images I remember when working on your behalf in Washington.
This drought also further emphasizes the importance of ensuring that farms and ranches that rely on irrigation are able to have access to a quality and reliable source of water.
I have led efforts in the Montana and North Dakota congressional delegations to urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation to continue to support this critical project and ensure that funding currently dedicated for the project is not reallocated.
As we continue to pray for rain in Montana, we must do all we can to loosen the regulatory burdens that tie farmers and ranchers hands as they try to do what’s best for their crops, livestock and livelihoods.
Supporting our farmers and ranchers is supporting Montana.