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The Montana Stockgrowers Association is working with lawmakers and other groups to find solutions to address the concerns of many private property owners across Montana regarding the proposed Big Sky Country National Heritage Area. Rancher Dana Darlington, MSGA board member along with Raylee Honeycutt, MSGA Natural Resources Director share more on House Bill 554.

Mr. Bill Jimmerson has taught and influenced thousands of Ag Education and FFA members for over 50 years. As an Ag Educator, FFA advisor and later on Montana State FFA Advisor, Mr. Jimmerson is a mover and shaker. Now retired, he shares a glimpse into his life’s work.

"Waiting for a Chinook" by Charlie Russell can be found hanging in the homes of many ranches across the state. It is a reminder of the power of Mother Nature. But it is also a reminder of a rancher’s commitment to their livestock and land no matter the weather. What is the history of the artwork? How did the Montana Stockgrowers Association come to own it? Jim Peterson, Rancher and Chairman of the CM Russell Museum along with Jim Steinbeisser President of the MT Stockgrowers share the history.

Taking a break from minus 20-degree weather, Katelyn Dynneson Larson joins the “Agriculture Conversation.” Katelyn farms and ranches near Sidney, MT. The discussion ranges from being a woman in ag, family dynamics, expecting her first child, ag leadership, Bakken oil and much more.

Wyoming native Kaitlynn Glover, Exc. Dir. of the National Public Lands Council, gives a recap of PLC’s work representing cattle and sheep producers in Washington D.C. From an update on the Biden Administration, U.S. Forest Service rangeland management handbooks and directives comment period, and much more are covered in today’s “Agriculture Conversation.”

Do you qualify for a Paycheck Protection Loan for your farm or ranch? In this Wipfli Spotlight on Agriculture Podcast, Dustin Wiesner and Ryan Tangedal provide insight on the first and second draw of PPP and how ag producers can apply for loans and loan forgiveness. They also give insight on the Employee Retention Credit and items you can utilize to prepare for the first couple of quarters of 2021.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester discusses quality losses assistance for farmers, Keystone XL Pipeline, H2A Farm Labor issues and increasing broadband access for rural America.

Farmers, ranchers and agribusiness are still trying to wrap their minds around COVID relief programs. From the Paycheck Protection Program enrollment and forgiveness process, CFAP payments to producers and more. It can be hard to grasp. In this Wipfli Spotlight on Agriculture Podcast Brad Cook walks us through how Wipfli is a resource for all of agriculture.

Mitch Konen, Montana Grain Growers President, discusses grain prices, looking ahead to 2021, Dietary Guidelines and more.

Understanding the latest COVID-19 relief funds for ranchers, release of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines and advocacy are the talking points with guest Ethan Lane with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Colorado Rancher Hugh Sanburg, Vice Chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, discusses the Beef Checkoff and more.

The Montana World Trade Center on December 3, 2020, will host the Montana – Israel Virtual Trade Forum. The event will highlight the opportunities to grow trade between Montana and Israel and will focus on the agricultural and ag-tech industries. The MWTC’s Abby Majerus shares more on the virtual event. https://www.mwtc.org/

The American Sheep Industry Association's President Benny Cox of Texas and Exec. Dir. Peter Orwick discuss the challenges and opportunities the sheep industry faced in 2020.

What is the status of U.S. beef exports to Asia? Joel Haggard senior vice president for the Asia Pacific with U.S. Meat Export Federation gives his insight. Based in Hong Kong, Haggard oversees USMEF marketing and market access activities for all Asian markets and Oceania, and can address questions specific to key markets such as China/Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Raised on the family farm near Polson, MT, Alison Vergeront has deep roots in agriculture. She has served as agricultural liaison and field representative for U.S. Senator Steve Daines for the past six years. Starting Jan. 1, 2021 she will begin a new career as the Montana Grain Growers Association’s new executive vice president.

Montana Farmers Union and its partners are purchasing a mobile meat harvest unit. The mobile processing facility will become part of the first of its kind meat processing curriculum in the country that teaches meat processing from harvest to retail at Montana State University-Northern in Havre, MT. The mission of the collaboration is to produce more local food.

A report by the Montana Natural Resource Coalition addresses a request by the American Prairie Reserve to convert BLM grazing leases from traditional livestock production to indigenous animal or bison uses. MTNRC President and Fergus County Commission Ross Butcher shares more on what the grassroots report is about.

The Department of the Interior has removed the gray wolf from the endangered species list, signaling a successful recovery under the Endangered Species Act. The Public Lands Councils Exec. Dir. Kaitlynn Glover discusses how states and tribal governments will now take over the management of gray wolves. She also shares how the delisting is a win for livestock producers, sportsmen, conservationists, states in a full recovery of the species.

The first female from Montana to become a Natl' FFA Officer, Mamie Hertel discusses her year of service in the time of COVID-19.

Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Aurelia Skipwith discusses grizzly bear management in Montana and surrounding states among other issues.