As a part of his aggressive efforts to defend Montana agriculture producers and reduce consolidation in the packing industry by expanding local meat processing capacity, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., has secured more than $7.8 million in American Rescue Plan funds for 30 Montana small businesses, including 17 meat processing projects and resources for three new U.S. Department of Agriculture certified

The Montana Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal in Culbertson’s Legion Park case. Access to the park has been blocked by Knudsen Family Limited Partnership, preventing use by scouting groups and the public. Miles and Rhonda Knudsen are listed as registered agents for the partnership. District Court Judge David Cybulski ruled on cross motions for summary judgment in Feb. 18 that the Town

Average gasoline prices in Montana have fallen 1.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.99/g on Monday, March 21, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 615 stations in Montana. Prices in Montana are 56.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.30/g higher than a year ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Montana was priced at $3.76/g on Sunday while the most expensive was $4.31/g, a difference of 55.0 cents per gallon The national average price of gasoline has fallen 9.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.23/g on Monday. The national average is up 71.5 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.37/g higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country. Historical gasoline prices in Montana and the national average going back 10 years: March 21, 2021: $2.69/g (U.S. Average: $2.86/g) March 21, 2020: $2.25/g (U.S. Average: $2.09/g) March 21, 2019: $2.44/g (U.S. Average: $2.61/g) March 21, 2018: $2.57/g (U.S. Average: $2.57/g) March 21, 2017: $2.33/g (U.S. Average: $2.29/g) March 21, 2016: $1.90/g (U.S. Average: $1.98/g) March 21, 2015: $2.24/g (U.S. Average: $2.42/g) March 21, 2014: $3.23/g (U.S. Average: $3.52/g) March 21, 2013: $3.35/g (U.S. Average: $3.69/g) March 21, 2012: $3.57/g (U.S. Average: $3.87/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Idaho- $4.33/g, down 1.3 cents per gallon from last week’s $4.34/g. Billings- $3.99/g, down 0.8 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.99/g. Wyoming- $3.99/g, unchanged from last week’s $3.98/g. “GasBuddy, last week, predicted that a top was in for the national average price of gasoline, and indeed, for the first time in 12 weeks, the national average price of gasoline has declined. While the decline is still subject to changes in global supply and demand, COVID and Russia’s war on Ukraine, we are poised to see additional downdrafts at the pump this week in most areas,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “For now, gasoline demand has shown absolutely no signs of buckling under the pressure of higher prices, even as California nears an average of $6 per gallon, with spring break travel well underway. If the situation does worsen, with more oil being kept away from global markets, it’s not impossible that gas prices would still have to climb a considerable amount for Americans to start curbing their insatiable demand for gasoline.”

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to help farmers and ranchers create economic prosperity by maximizing the value of the items they produce. USDA is making the grants available under the Value-Added Producer Grants program. The grants help agricultural producers generate new