The Economic Transformation, Stabilization and Workforce Development Advisory Commission voted unanimously to recommend using $7.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to strengthen and diversify Montana’s agricultural industry through targeted investments in value-added agriculture projects during its meeting on Thursday, Oct. 27. The Montana Department of Agriculture proposed the

Montana State University Extension will host a webinar series to offer farm and ranch women the opportunity to be part of Annie’s Project, a national program focused on management skills. The series will be offered virtually each Monday evening from 6 to 8:30 p.m. from Nov. 8 to Dec. 13. The sessions will feature Jolene Brown, a farmer, author and professional speaker who will share business

An online tool is now available to help ranchers document and estimate payments to cover feed transportation costs caused by drought, which are now covered by the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture updated the program this year to include feed transportation costs as well as lowered the threshold for when assistance for

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued legal guidance last week on the status of the Biden administration’s federal vaccine mandate for federal contractors. The guidance follows Knudsen’s initial guidance issued earlier this month to help Montana workers understand their rights. Knudsen says Biden’s claims in his Sept. 9 speech that federal contractors will be subject to mandatory

The Nakoda Dakota Oyate Youth Council held elections Oct. 13. The newly elected officers for 2021-22 include chair Ethan Blount, of Wolf Point, vice chair Mo Bighorn (Brockton), secretary Jillian Norain (Wolf Point), treasurer Kristina Alexander (Poplar), sargent-at-arms Jesse Owen (Frazer) and representative Azalei Ackerman of Wolf Point. NDO is a group of youth leaders from across the Fort

Montana’s Districting and Apportionment Commission hit another speed bump on the road to consensus this weekend, postponing the selection of a final congressional map for public review until next week after one proposal failed to gather enough votes. The independent commission, tasked with drawing congressional and legislative district lines every 10 years, went into its meeting Saturday

Montana gas prices have fallen 1 cent per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.39/g on Monday, Nov. 1, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 615 stations in Montana. Gas prices in Montana are 5.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.14/g higher than a year ago. The national average price of gasoline has risen 0.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.38/g today.