Read the latest news from the Montana Farm Bureau Federation on legislative actions:
January 8th, 2010: MFBF urges Senators to consider small rural business in health care reform language
BOZEMAN — The Montana Farm Bureau sent letters to Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today urging them to truly consider issues of importance to the state’s farmers and ranchers in the health care debate. “Health insurance costs are an ongoing and significant expense for agricultural employers. Health care reform must not unduly burden [...] Continue reading . . .
December 31st, 2009: MFBF looks at agricultural issues of 2009
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation worked on many issues in 2009 that directly affect farmers and ranchers. Issues ranged from national concerns, such as health care, estate tax and climate change legislation, to Montana issues, such as water rights, irrigation ditch takings, property taxes, freight rate disputes and brucellosis. For more detailed information on these [...] Continue reading . . .
November 12th, 2009: Climate change legislation hot topic at Farm Bureau Convention
MISSOULA–Climate change legislation and the cap and trade issue was a primary topic of discussion during the Montana Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention Nov. 8-11 in Missoula. American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman, who flew in from Washington, D.C., addressed the issue at the Century Club Breakfast and the General Session. “The American people are [...] Continue reading . . .
October 30th, 2009: AFBF, MFBF: S. 1733 Fails Farmers and Consumers
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Bob Stallman presented testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. Noting AFBF’s opposition to the House companion, bill H.R. 2454, Stallman said the group is similarly opposed to the Senate version. “One of the major failings [...] Continue reading . . .
August 13th, 2009: MFBF expresses strong concern about current health care reform push
The Montana Farm Bureau is urging caution before rushing into the recent push for the Health Care Reform Bill. MFBF’s Executive Vice President Jake Cummins noted that while both Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester have done an exemplary job in working with a variety of issues of concern for Montana’s family farmers and ranchers, [...] Continue reading . . .
July 7th, 2009: Estate tax still a problem for Montana’s ranchers
Nancy Schlepp, national affairs director for Montana Farm Bureau, recently spent time in Washington, D.C. visiting with Montana’s Congressional delegation about estate tax issues. “This is the time to start talking about the estate tax and its potentially detrimental effect on farmers and ranchers,” noted Schlepp. “I visited with the staff in Senator Baucus’, Senator [...] Continue reading . . .
June 24th, 2009: American Clean Energy and Security Act poses serious threat to agriculture
Washington, D.C.—The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation has called on the House Agriculture Committee to make drastic changes to a climate change bill before it is considered by Congress, telling the committee that to do less could result “in the economic equivalent of unilateral disarmament” if the government’s optimistic assumptions don’t hold true. [...] Continue reading . . .
June 12th, 2009: MFBF Sees Need for Change in New Climate Bill
Washington, D.C.—The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation called on the House Agriculture Committee to make drastic changes to a climate change bill before it is considered by Congress, telling the committee that to do less could result “in the economic equivalent of unilateral disarmament” if the government’s optimistic assumptions don’t hold true. In [...] Continue reading . . .
June 6th, 2009: Farm Bureau urges opposition to faulty Clean Water Bill
BOZEMAN–The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is urging its members—and anyone else with a concern about water and property rights—to contact their Senators and urge them to oppose S.787, the Clean Water Restoration Act. “Certainly the Clean Water Act has done an admirable job in making sure our nation’s waters are clean. This is not [...] Continue reading . . .
May 22nd, 2009: Climate Change Legislation: Benefits Must Outweigh Costs
By John Hart The talk on Capitol Hill is not to expect climate change legislation to become law this year, but do expect Congress to take action before the 2010 elections. Any delay in sweeping climate change legislation is welcome news for America’s farmers and ranchers because whatever action Congress takes could have a profound [...] Continue reading . . .