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Plenty of ag bills debated in 2019 Legislature

proper ways to use age-appropriate tools. • Set a positive example. Another way for parents to protect their children on the farm is to set a positive example.

Tim Leeds tleeds@havredailynews.com

Ag sector plays strategic role in nations’ economic development and prosperity

A multitude of bills related to agriculture were brought up in the 2019 Legislature, with some passing and many defeated, including one issue that put some Montana ag organizations on opposite sides of the fence. Senate Bill 206, sponsored by Sen. Al Olszewsli, R-Kalispell, and House Bill 594, sponsored by Brad Hammlett, D-Cascade, each would have required Montana stores to put up placards telling the country of origin of beef or pork products. Montana Cattlemen’s A s s o c i a t i o n , Montana Farmers Union and Northern Plains Resource Council supported the bills, while Montana Farm Bureau Federation and Montana Stockgrowers Association opposed them. Montana passed a law requiring the labeling in 2005, with a clause sunsetting the law when federal regulations requiring countryof-origin labeling, or COOL, passed. A federal law did pass in 2008, but after international opposition including Mexico and Canada saying they would impose tariffs and the World Trade Organization ruling against the United States, saying those countries could impose tariffs because of the labeling, Congress repealed the COOL requirements for beef and pork in December 2015. The supporters of this session’s legislation said people want to know the origin of their meat products and that U.S. — and Montana — producers are losing income because of the loss of labeling. The opponents said it would be nearly impossible for Montana retailers to put up the placards, because they often don’t know where the meat comes from. It also puts them in the position of being fined or jailed for failing to label the products, even if they don’t know where it is from, Montana Stockgrowers said in a release. They also said the bills might be unconstitutional — under the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, meat labeling is regulated by the federal government through the Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906, a Stockgrowers release said. Both bills were tabled in committee and listed as “probably dead” during the last week of the Legislature, which was still in session at printing deadline for this story. Reps. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, and Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder all voted for taking Hamlett’s bill out of committee to debate on the floor while Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, voted against it. No floor vote was taken on Olszewski’s bill. It remained tabled in the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee on which Olszewski sits and which Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, and Frank Smith, D-Poplar vice chair. Another of Olszewski’s ag bills did pass, Senate Resolution 16, which “urges Congress to pass a federal COOL law for beef and pork p r o d u c t s t h a t m e e t s Wo r l d Tr a d e Organization requirements.”

From Metro Creative Connection Though it’s easy to look at the tech industry and think this increasingly influential sector is what makes the world go round, something closer to the very core of the Earth may be what’s driving the economy. The agricultural sector plays a strategic role in a nation’s economic development and prosperity. From the earliest days, agriculture has been heralded as playing a crucial role in North American culture. Farmers who grow produce and raise livestock for

Parents can do so in various ways. Using equipment properly, removing tractor keys from ignitions when tractors are not in use and exercising caution when using

meats and other products have long exemplified what it means to work hard and take initiatives to be self-sufficient. The symbiotic nature of agriculture and the economy is noticeable when examining the ups and downs of each. This is because food production and the potential of agriculture extends beyond the fields and local food stands. These resources impact supply chains and other markets. A strong agriculture base influences other employment sectors like food manufacturing, biotechnology,

Facts and figures on farm safety

Havre Daily News/Ryan Berry Free range cattle wander along Montana Secondary Highway 234 in Hill County. A bill that would have required stores to put up signs telling what country beef and pork was from stalled in the Legislature this year, although a bill specifying that lab-grown meat could not be labeled as hamburger or ground beef passed. In the Senate, on final reading, Lang, Smith and Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, voted for the joint resolution, which passed 46-4. In the House, Bachmeier, Knudsen and Windy Boy voted for the resolution on final reading. Lang voted against it. It passed 63-34 with three excused absenses. Montana Cattlemen’s Association called the resolution pointless, while Montana Farm Bureau Federation supported it. Cattlemen’s Association did say in a release it would “cooperate with other like-minded organizations to pass a national COOL law.” But a bill supported by both Cattlemen’s Association and the Farm Bureau Federation regarding marketing meat did pass. House Bill 327, sponsored by Rep. Alan Redfield, R-Livingston, defines hamburger or ground beef including that “the term does not include cell-cultured edible products.” Under the bill, lab-grown meat cannot be marketed as hamburger or ground beef in Montana. An amended version of the bill passed the Senate 45-4 with one senator absent. Lang, Smith and Tempel all voted for the bill. The amended version passed the House 75-21 with three excused and one absent. Bachmeier, Kassmier and Knudsen all voted

Metro Creative Connection According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agriculture is among the most hazardous industries. Fatal and nonfatal injuries pose a significant threat to farmers, including the many young people who work on farms. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, in an effort to promote productive and safe workplaces, supports programs that conduct research on injuries associated with agriculture as well as pesticide exposure, pulmonary disease, musculoskeletal disorders, hearing loss and stress. Studying the results of such research, compiled by NIOSH, may compel veteran and novice farmers to further emphasize safety measures and promote practices that can reduce risk for accidents on the farm. • Estimates indicate that there were roughly 2.1 million full-time workers employed in production agriculture in 2017 and between 1.4 and 2.1 million hired crop workers employed annually on crop farms in the United States. • An estimated 893,000 young people under 20 years of age resided on farms in 2014. More than half of those young people performed farm work, and an additional 266,000 youth were hired to work on farms in 2014. • Each day, roughly 100 agricultural workers suffer injuries that cause them to miss time at work. • In 2014, 12,000 youth were injured on farms, and 4,000 of those youths could trace their injuries to farm work. • In 2016, 417 farmers and farm workers died from work-related injuries. Tractor

overturns and other transportation incidents were the leading cause of death for these farmers and farm workers. • A rollover protection system, or ROPS, is a structure, similar to rollcages and rollbars in cars and trucks, intended to protect farm equipment operators from injuries caused by overturns or rollovers. NIOSH notes that an ROPS is the most effective way to prevent overturn deaths. Despite that, in 2014, only 62 percent of tractors used on farms in the U.S. were equipped with an ROPS.

hazardous materials shows kids the importance of caution when working on farms. Hundreds of thousands of children per-

hospitality, machinery building and much more, while a weak agriculture can adversely affect those sectors. While it can be difficult for people in developed nations to visualize agriculture’s effect, one only needs to turn to impoverished and developing nations to see just how big an impact agriculture can have on an economy. Agriculture provides food and raw materials, eventually creating demand for goods produced in non-agricultural sectors. Also, food provides nutrition that can serve

form jobs on farms across the country. Parents who want to teach their kids to farm should always do so with safety in mind.

as the foundation of a healthy nation. Earning a living in agriculture strengthens purchasing power, which fuels other markets. Eventually, farming can pave the way for development, including roads, markets, shipping services, exporting and many other sectors. Agriculture is an important economic building block. An especially important sector, the agricultural industry, when supported, can contribute greatly to sustained economic growth.

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Safety tips for parents of young farmers From Metro Creative Connection People who live in cities, exurbs or suburbs may not come across farms very frequently. But millions of people, including children, still live on farms. In fact, in 2009 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that more than one million children under the age of 20 lived, worked or had a regular presence on farms in the United States. Protecting children from injury on farms, especially those who perform work on farms, is of paramount importance.

The American Society of Safety Engineers offers the following safety tips to parents of children who will be spending time on farms. • Know and obey the laws. Various state and federal laws are in place to protect young children from farm-related accidents and injuries. Age requirements dictate which jobs children can perform on a farm, and parents should adhere to those requirements. Asking children to do more than they’re physically capable of can lead to accident, injury or even death.

• Review equipment operation instructions. Before assigning children a task on the farm, parents should review the equipment operation instructions. Doing so can help parents reacquaint themselves with tools and equipment they may not have used in awhile, and that can make it easier for them to teach kids how to use such equipment. In addition, reviewing equipment instructions may provide insight to parents unsure if their children are old enough to use certain tools. • Inspect equipment. Before children

perform any tasks on the farm, parents should inspect the equipment their children are likely to use to make sure each tool is safe. Make sure tools are in proper working order, as broken or poorly working equipment increases the risk of accident or injury. • Enroll children in farm safety camps. The ASSE recommends that parents contact their local Cooperative Extension and Farm Bureau offices to enroll children in farm safety camps. Such camps can teach kids safe farming techniques and the

Booming: Consumers are buying more locally made value-added products, as well ■ Continued from page 6 buying foods grown closer to where they live. In addition to meats, fruits and vegeta-

bles, consumers can find many locally made items that expand the potential for farm-totable. These include, but are not limited to,

artisanal cheeses, wines, beer, baked goods, milk and other dairy, and honey. Local, sustainable foods are in demand,

helping not only local restaurants and merchants but also the small and medium farms that service these establishments.

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for it, while Windy Boy voted in opposition. A bill sponsored by Kassmier requiring county commissioner approval before wild bison are released into a county was passed by the Legislature and was awaiting Gov. Steve Bullock’s signature at printing deadline. The bill passed the House 56-41 on third reading with three excused. Kassmier and Knudsen voted for the bill while Bachmeier and Windy Boy voted against it. It passed the Senate 29-20 on final reading with Lang and Tempel voting for it and Smith voting against. Another bison bill, which would have redefined the definition of wild bison, passed the Legislature but was been sent back with proposed amendments by Bullock. House Bill 132, sponsored by Rep. Kenneth Holmlund, R-Miles City, would define wild bison as as a bison that has not been “reduced to captivity” and has never been subject to a livestock per-capita fee and has never been owned by a person. It was amended by the Senate and passed 30-20 on final reading with Lang and Tempel voting for it and Smith voting against.

■ See Ag bills Page A6 Havre Daily News/File photo A farmer harvests wheat in Hill County. The Legislature passed a bill to use Growth Through Agriculture funds to create a program to help farmers pay off student loans. It also passed a bill increasing the amount going to Growth Through Agriculture from the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund.

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Farm to table businesses booming Metro Creative Connection Consumers’ appetites for local foods are growing, and restaurants have taken notice. Today, many local businesses, including farms and restaurants, have mutually exclusive relationships that make it possible for local residents to enjoy nutritious, locally produced meals. According to the market research firm Packaged Facts, local foods generated $11.7 billion in sales in 2014 and will climb to $20.2 billion by 2019. Farm-to-table remains a growing trend that benefits farmers, restaurateurs and consumers. This is evidenced by the rising number of farmers markets cropping up in neighborhoods all across the country, as well as the niche offerings by regional food purveyors. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that, in the last 20 years, the number of farmers markets has grown by more than 350 percent. Many consumers are now choosing “local” for dining at home and when dining out, and this is making a major impact on the nation’s food systems. Foodies as well as industry experts predict that the local foods movement is a permanent and mainstream trend. In 2014, the National Restaurant Association found the desire for local foods dominated its “Top Food Trends.” The most in-demands foods include locally sourced meats and seafood as well as locally sourced produce. Consumers also are interested in farm/estate-branded foods. Some restaurants are even producing “hyper-local” food, or herbs and produce grown right on the property. As the demand for local foods has evolved, so has the term “local foods.” “Local” can be a wide-ranging term that refers to foods produced in a particular town, state or even region. The 2008 Farm Act defines a “locally or regionally produced agricultural food product” as one that is marketed less than 400 miles from its origin. However, a few states have estab-

Courtesy photo from Arterm Bali via Pexels.com

Tomatos ripen in the sun. lished more stringent rules that indicate “local” constitutes food produced within the borders of a state or within a small perimeter of the state. The growing preference for locally pro-

duced foods is great news for the farmers and small food producers that have long fought for footing among the mega-importers. According to the trade publication Produce Business, even though “local” does

not place limits on the size of the farm, the growing desire among consumers to go local is benefitting many small and midsized farms, as consumers are increasingly

■ See Booming Page 8

Ag bills: Bill passed providing more funds to program to help farmers pay student loans ■ Continued from page 5 The amended version passed the House 54-45 with one excused absence. Kassmier and Knudsen voted for it and Bachmeier and Windy Boy voted against it. Bullock said the wording of the bill would create confusion in determining which bison were wild and which were not, and recommended amending it to say, “‘Wild buffalo’ or ‘wild bison’ means a bison that: a. Is not reduced to captivity; b. Is not subject to the per capita fee under (Montana Code Annotated) 15-24-921; and c. Is not owned by a person.” The bill was awaiting action on Bullock’s suggested amendments. A bill setting up a student loan repayment system through the Growth Through Agriculture system for people committing to operating a farm at least five years passed the Legislature and was awaiting being sent to the governor.

House Bill 431, sponsored by Rep. Zach Brown, D-Bozeman, was amended by the Senate and passed 36-14 with Tempel, Smith and Lang all voting for it. The amended version passed the House 69-29 with four excused. Bachmeier and Windy Boy voted for the bill while Kassmier and Knudsen voted against it. A bill to increase funding of the Growth Through Agriculture program — which receives funding through the Coal Severance Tax Fund — passed the Legislature and was awaiting being sent to the governor at printing deadline. House Bill 52, sponsored by Rep. Jim Keane, D-Butte, increased funding to economic development programs including putting an extra $275,000 to Growth Through Agriculture. It was amended by the Senate and passed 45-5, with Lang, Smith and Tempel all voting for it.

The House passed the amended version 64-32 with three excused and one absent. Bachmeier, Kassmier and Windy Boy voted for the bill, while Knudsen voted against it. A bill dealing with state water rights passed out of the Legislature and was on its way to the governor. House Bill 286, sponsored by Redfield, specifies that the state does not accrue a water right if water from a private property owner is used on state land unless it has a deed transferring that water ownership or a judge rules that it has the rights. The Senate amended the bill and passed it 42-7, with Lang and Tempel voting in favor and Smith againts. The House passed the amended version 90-9, with Bachmeier, Kasssmier, Knudsen and Windy Boy all voting for it. A bill by Sen. Mike Phillips, D-Bozeman, that would have banned holding contests relat-

ed to hunting predatory animals — such as coyotes and red fox — never got off the ground, Senate Bill 186 was tabled in the Senate Fish and Game Committee Feb. 21. Another bill by Phillips, Senate Bill 181, which would have created a buffer zone around Yellowstone National Park where hunting of wolves was prohibited, was tabled in the Senate Fish and Game Committee Feb. 19. A resolution urging Congress to return management of grizzly bears to Montana and to review delisting from the Endangered Species Act populations of the bear that have met criteria for delisting. The resolution passed the Senate on a 38-12 vote with Lang and Tempel voting for it and Smith against. It passed the House 61-36 with Bachmeier, Kassmier and Knudsen voting for it and Windy Boy voting against.

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