State Level:
Montana Farm Bureau members have two full-time lobbyists representing the interests of Montana farms and ranches at the state capitol. Several hundred bills are introduced each session and all are reviewed for potential impact to our member farmers and ranchers. In addition to the legislative session, Montana Farm Bureau lobbyists keep in close working contact with the administration and all agencies.
National Level:
Montana Farm Bureau members have their own national lobbying team in Montana as well as the entire lobbying staff housed by American Farm Bureau. Montana representatives make weekly contact with our Montana Congressional Delegation in D.C. and keep them updated to our agriculture positions.
Montana Farm Bureau volunteer leaders maintain an active presence at the state Capitol and in D.C. At several times during the legislative session, volunteer leaders testify before committees. On both levels, when there are critical issues before lawmakers, Montana Farm Bureau issues a “Call to Action” that activates our extensive grassroots network – members by calling, writing and sending e-mails to their legislators on specific bills.
How to Contact Your Legislator
Latest Legislative Updates
The Montana Farm Bureau has expressed strong disappointment in the latest action by Governor Steve Bullock on House Bill 2. The governor signed HB 2, but made an unexpected amendatory veto that stripped $250,000 funding for the Montana Ag Experiment Stations (MAES) and $400,000 from the Extension Service from the state’s budget. “By this amendatory [...]
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is closely watching the latest developments with the farm bill. On Monday, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) presented their farm bill proposal to Capitol Hill. The proposal offers a diverse mix of risk management and safety net tools to benefit a wide range of farms and it saves [...]
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The Montana Farm Bureau continues to oppose legislation that calls for a shorter tax reappraisal cycle. SB 398 changes the reappraisal cycle for Class 3 (agricultural land), Class 4 (residential) and Class 10 (forest land) from six to two years. SB 398 is similar to SB 4. SB 4 would have changed the tax reappraisal [...]
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With Montana Legislative Session at mid-point, Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is reflecting on its work on bills that would affect agricultural producers. If a bill hasn’t been transmitted over to the other legislative body by now, it’s dead. The past week was extremely busy as everyone was trying to get their bills heard. “A [...]
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HELENA—The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is urging farmers and ranchers to ask members of the Senate Taxation Committee to remove agriculture land, also known as Class 3 property, from Senate Bill 4. SB 4 puts tax classes 3, 4 and 10 into a one-year reappraisal cycle instead of the current six year cycle. “It’s [...]
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HELENA–The Montana Farm Bureau applauds the House Judiciary Committee for tabling House Bill 235—a bill that would have allowed corner crossing as a legal form of access. “Tabling this bill is a victory for farmers and ranchers, land owners and private property rights,” said MFBF Lobbyist Nicole Rolf. “If this bill would have become law, [...]
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As the December 31 deadline for tax reform looms, the Montana Farm Bureau is expressing urgency in solving the estate tax issue. The current rate, 35 percent with a $5 million exemption, will revert to 55 percent and a $1 million exemption at midnight on Dec. 31, which will strike a real blow to farm [...]
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation has provided public comment on SB 35, the proposed rule regarding rivers that are navigable for title. In the prepared comments, MFBF’s John Youngberg put forth several concerns, including the definition of the words [river] bed, footprint and low-water mark. He noted that the section on “hazards” is not necessary [...]
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The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers appear intent on regulating all water. As bad as what they’re trying to do is the way they’re trying to do it, through what’s known as a Guidance Document. Not that Farm Bureau wouldn’t be against this proposal if EPA and the Corps went through [...]
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Montana Farm Bureau is pleased that House action on H.R. 8, the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2011, introduced by Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) passed. H.R. 8 extends the 01-03 (Bush) tax cuts for one year. Under the bill, the estate tax exemption will remain at $5 million per person indexed for inflation, [...]
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