Agricultural operations in Montana have been significantly impacted by drought and recent wildfires. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events. Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available

woody material, sand, rock and materials from collapsed hoop houses/high tunnels on cropland or pastureland. Through the program, FSA can provide assistance toward the restoration or replacement of fences including livestock cross fences, boundary fences, cattle gates or wildlife exclusion fences on agricultural land. Additionally, the Emergency Forest Restoration Program can assist eligible

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Sept. 19 that USDA is awarding more than $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors in 12 states to increase processing capacity, spur competition to expand market opportunities for U.S. farmers and create jobs in rural areas. This marks the final investment in the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, funded

National Farmers Union and the U.S. Department of Agriculture today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address staffing levels and improve customer service at USDA Farm Service Agency county-level offices. Under this MOU, National Farmers Union and USDA will work together to gather feedback on the experiences of family farmers and ranchers when interacting with FSA staff and the programs

The United States Department of Agriculture announced new funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program for fiscal year 2025. Administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the program helps landowners and other eligible entities conserve, restore, and protect wetlands, productive agricultural lands, and grasslands at risk of conversion to non-grassland uses.

It appears that things are looking up for law enforcement in Wolf Point. Wolf Point Mayor Chris Dschaak said the police department started to have four police officers at the end of last week. Background checks are also being conducted on other applicants. “We’re a whole lot closer,” Dschaak said of being fully staffed. The police department worked with just two officers at the

Montana voters saw red as they elected Republicans during the general election held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Headlining the results was Tim Sheehy defeated three-term U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in a race that attracted much national attention and financial backing for both candidates. Sheehy, a Republican, won with 54 percent of the voting. In Roosevelt County, Tester received 2,184 votes compared to Sheehy’s

Debra Boyd of Poplar along with other volunteers are demonstrating the real meaning of Thanksgiving again this November. Last year, the Feed the Homeless Thanksgiving Dinner attracted more than 200 people. This year’s second annual dinner is scheduled for Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 28, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. “It was something that was on my heart for a while,”