13 minute read
Governor Greg Gianforte Investing in Irrigation and Supporting Montana Agriculture
Governor Gianforte speaks with Jake Feddes of Feddes Red Angus Ranch in Manhattan, Montana.
Montana is renowned for the beauty of its land and the excellence of its agricultural production, from wheat and pulse crops to meat. That agricultural production, however, relies on water and the irrigation infrastructure that delivers it. From maintenance on century-old projects like the Milk River Project to proposed new ventures like the Fallon Flats Irrigation Project, Montanans know the importance of investment in the infrastructure that supports Montana’s number 1 industry, agriculture. To learn more about the efforts that the state is making to support irrigated agriculture, Mike Murphy, the executive director of the Montana Water Resources Association and the contributing editor of the Montana edition of Irrigation Leader, interviewed Greg Gianforte, who has served as Montana’s governor since January 2021.
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Mike Murphy: Governor, please tell our readers about your views on the value of irrigated agriculture to the state of Montana.
Governor Gianforte: It’s appropriate that we’re talking about this during Ag Week. We’ll be out with producers all over the state this week. Water is the lifeblood of production. Especially in arid climates like ours, you need water for production, and it was irrigation development that led many folks to settle here in the early 1900s. With ag being the number 1 industry in the state, it’s critical to make sure we get water on the ground.
Mike Murphy: What can you tell us about the investments the State of Montana has made in irrigation, including, for example, renewable resource development grants and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) programs?
Governor Gianforte: Well, we’ve made irrigation a real priority. We’re committed to making strategic and long-term investments in irrigation projects, which we’re doing through the ARPA process. We allocated $10 million of ARPA funds to irrigation projects, and the vetting process for those projects is currently underway. In addition, House Bill 632 authorized minimum allocation grants that can also be used to fund irrigation projects. I would urge any producers who want
Governor Gianforte meets with local leaders and producers at Gnerer Angus Ranch in southeastern Montana.
to pursue projects to make sure they’re in touch with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). Director Amanda Kaster has an open door. We’d love to work with producers to figure out how to expand and upgrade our irrigation projects. Too many of our irrigation projects are getting a little long in the tooth, so we need some upgrades.
Mike Murphy: It has been great working with Director Kaster. This past year, you toured the proposed site of the Fallon Flats Irrigation Project with Mr. Dennis Teske. What are your thoughts on that proposed project and on the prospects for additional new irrigation development in Montana?
Governor Gianforte: I did enjoy getting on the ground up there. As I always say, the truth doesn’t live in Helena, which is why I’ve made it a priority to get out and visit with Montanans in all 56 of our counties. This week, for instance, I’ll be in Glendive, Terry, Ekalaka, Miles City, and Billings, mostly with ag producers. We have a lot of water in the state. It just happens to be in the Missouri or Yellowstone Rivers, and most of it leaves the state. We have adjacent benchland that is very fertile—it just needs water. I think there are some unique opportunities here, though you have to look at the economics of each particular case. I encourage landowners to work with DNRC to find projects that we can pencil out.
Mike Murphy: Some of the biggest efforts and the greatest hurdles when it comes to infrastructure in Montana have been in the HiLine area. What are your thoughts on the efforts of the St. Mary Rehabilitation Working Group, the prospects for the rehabilitation of the Milk River Project, and the effects on the Hi-Line?
Governor Gianforte: I said many times when I was in Congress that I thought rebuilding the Milk River Project is probably the number 1 infrastructure project in the entire state. We know its importance. It provides water for the whole Hi-Line. Eighteen thousand residents rely on it for domestic water. It also irrigates about 140,000 acres. We know that the Milk River would go dry 6 out of 10 years if we didn’t have that diversion. That’s why I’m really pleased that Lieutenant Governor Juras is working with the group there. I was up there for the ribbon cutting for Drop 5 after it was completely replaced. We need to completely rebuild the project so that the Hi-Line can continue to thrive.
Mike Murphy: That’s important not only to the Hi-Line but to the economics of the state of Montana. What are your thoughts regarding the Lower Yellowstone Intake Diversion
Governor Gianforte hosts Mike Murphy in the governor’s office for his Irrigation Leader interview.
Governor Gianforte holds produce from Barkley's Home Grown Greenhouse in Baker, Montana. Governor Gianforte: I’ve been out there and toured that project a number of times. It’s a great project, as you mentioned, both for irrigators, who grow sugar beets and other crops, and for the pallid sturgeon. Farming is conservation, and it’s great that we can bring these two things together on one project.
Mike Murphy: What are your thoughts regarding the current dry conditions and the efforts of the Drought Task Force?
Governor Gianforte: I’ll keep praying for rain. It’s dry out there. We saw some crop failures this past summer, particularly along the Hi-Line and in the eastern portions of the state. I was down in Broadus—they had it really rough. We saw grasshopper infestations south of Malta and in other areas. Up in the northeastern corner of the state, there were in certain cases 100 percent crop failures. You can’t have a lot of years like that strung together. We’ve had a really mild winter. This is the time of the year when it should be raining and snowing. Snowpack is at 80 percent down in the Bozeman area, but we still have time to get more. Given the longer, drier summers we’ve been seeing, we knew it was time to take a look at the state’s drought plan, which was last updated in 1995. Drought is affecting everyone, from anglers to foresters to ag producers, and I appreciate the work of the Drought Task Force to plan for the future and increase our preparedness statewide.
Mike Murphy: I’ve got to admit, the weather has been nice for calving, but we’re going to pay the price if we don’t get the moisture. Governor, you have initiated efforts to cut unnecessary regulation and undertake a thorough review of, for example, the programs and future direction of the DNRC as we move closer to completion of the water rights adjudication program. What are your thoughts on how those efforts are going?
Governor Gianforte: We’re making great progress. Again, I will commend Director Kaster of the DNRC. We now have a completely transparent water permit process. It’s actually visible on the website. Previously, we were not treating farmers properly in the way we were processing permits. We’re changing that. We’ve brought more of a culture of customer service and transparency to the process. We were forcing water permit applicants to waive their rights to a timely response. We’ve stopped that practice. There’s more to be done as the Red Tape Relief Task Force conducts a top-to-bottom review of regulations, but I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made.
Mike Murphy: I think the comprehensive review process has been an excellent opportunity to prepare for the future. I appreciate the opportunity to sit on the post-final-decree transition study committee.
Governor Gianforte: I think that at this point, since taking office, I’ve made close to 700 appointments to various boards. People ask me, “Greg, what do you want me to do?” I say, “Just bring a whole bucket of common sense, and do the right thing.” Mike Murphy: Governor, what is your message to Congress about the importance of irrigation and water to Montana and the effects of decisions regarding issues such as the Waters of the United States (WOTUS)?
Governor Gianforte: The current administration has made a zombie of the Obama-era WOTUS rule, to the detriment of our farmers and ranchers. I’m very concerned about the confiscation of property rights that would result from this WOTUS zombie. I’m also concerned about the Biden administration’s 30 by 30 plan, which would essentially put 30 percent of American acres under conservation by the year 2030. That’s five times the size of Montana. This is not going to be good for our ag producers, our recreationalists, or the health of our forests. This is why, just recently, I sent a letter to the Biden administration to opt out of this fishing expedition. Our farmers and ranchers have been taking great care of the land for generations, and I trust them to continue to be good stewards of our lands and waters. We don’t need the feds sticking their noses in here. It’s also a violation of the 10th Amendment—there’s nothing in our constitution that says the feds are responsible for land use practices within states.
Mike Murphy: As we celebrate Ag Week in Montana, what are your overall thoughts regarding importance of agriculture?
Governor Gianforte: Well, I was pleased to proclaim this week to be Ag Week, and I proclaimed yesterday to be Meat Day, which I celebrated by having a nice steak. The reality is that every day is Meat Day in Montana. I’m looking forward to getting out, speaking with some of our producers, and seeing the great work they’re doing. We’re going to continue a strategy at the Department of Agriculture focused on value-added ag, because the Montana brand doesn’t get preserved through the supply chain, whether we’re talking about pulse crops, grains, or beef. I was really pleased to see that the amount of beef processed in state-inspected facilities has doubled compared to the last year. That’s progress in the right direction. We also announced that state-inspected plants are now able to ship beef anywhere in the country, which is a great expansion in processing that allows us to break the monopoly in the packaging industry. Ag is our number 1 industry, and I’m thrilled to be celebrating that this week.
Governor Gianforte promotes the Montana ag industry at Hayhook Ranch in Wilsall, Montana.
Governor Gianforte tours a Molson Coors grain elevator in Power, Montana.
Governor Gianforte: Later today, I’m convening an ag roundtable. I did this during last year’s Ag Week, too, and many people said it was the first time they had ever been in the room together. Last year, the group included grain growers, pulse crop growers, sugar beet growers, stock growers, cattlemen, and the Farm Bureau. We’re going to do that again today. I think you can get a lot more done when you have relationships and dialogue, so I’m excited to convene the meeting. IL
Greg Gianforte is the governor of Montana. He can be contacted at (406) 444-3111 or governor@mt.gov.
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4 Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. Following passport validation, a representative will assist with transport to Leonardo Plaza Netanya for dinner and overnight stay. Travel to the Caesarea National Park to see the Roman aqueduct and water cistern, proceed to Kibbutz Magal, then visit the Netafim irrigation factory and the Meggido National Park’s ancient water system. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay in Tiberias, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Drive north to view the two main sources of the Jordan River, the Dan and Banias Rivers, then on to Mt. Bental to see the Golan Heights, the Syrian border, and Mt. Hermon. Enjoy a winery tour and tasting, then return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight stay. Begin the day at the National Water Carrier, the system that supplies water to vast regions of the country, then travel to Mt. Arbel for an amazing view of the Sea of Galilee. Drive to Mt. Gilboa and Kibbutz Maale Gilboa, where the Gilboa Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Poser Project is located. Proceed to Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu for an agriculture bio tour. Drive via the Jordan Valley and the Judean Desert to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight stay.
5 Please save the date for the following scheduled tour, sponsored by Irrigation Leader, Municipal Water Leader, and Hydro Leader magazines and operated by Imagine Tours and Travel, LLC.
Itinerary
Drive to the Mount of Olives for a beautiful view over the Old City of Jerusalem, then visit the City of David, including the Hezekiah Tunnel. Brave the wet side or opt for the dry as you walk to the Pool of Siloam. Drive on to Armon Hanatziv to see ancient tunnels that brings water from Solomon’s Pool to the Temple. Enter the Old City to see the Western Wall, tunnels, Pool of Bethesda, and the Roman Cardo with its old wells. There will be an option to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher followed by dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem.
6 Visit the Israel Museum, which houses the Shrine of the Book, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and a miniature model of Jerusalem from the First Temple period. Drive to Sataf Spring in the Judean Hills to see how the citizens of the city get a few acres to grow their own vegetables and fruits while using an ancient irrigation system that leads water between terraces. Continue on to the Beit Zait Water Reservoir and Dam, followed by dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem.
7 Drive to the Einot Zukim Nature Reserve, which features an oasis of freshwater springs, vegetation, and animal life. Then, in the desert next to the
Dead Sea, experience the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, where kibbutz members pump water for their mineral water factory. Continue on to the world heritage site of Masada, where participants can walk the snake trail by foot or ascend via cable car to see King Herod’s fortress, an ancient synagogue, a Byzantine church, and a water cistern. Proceed to
Ein Bokek for dinner and overnight stay.
8 Travel through the Arava Desert Valley to the Yair Research and Development Agriculture
Center and Center for Modern Desert Farming.
Tour greenhouses and the agricultural inventions section, which focuses on the challenges of desert soil and climate. Continue to the ecological Kibbutz of Lotan to see how sandy soil is transformed to yield lush gardens and to hear about organic and permaculture tips that have helped the Center for
Creative Ecology treat waste, raise healthy food, and save energy. Proceed to Eliat for a possible desalination facility tour, followed by dinner and overnight stay in the city. 9 Drive via the Ramon Crater to the Negev Desert Research and Development Center near Ashalim, which specializes in using salty water for agriculture. Proceed to Kibbutz Hatzerim near Beer Sheva, which is the southern branch of the Netafim Irrigation Factory. Continue to a water desalination facility in Ashkelon or Ashdod on the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy a farewell dinner in Jaffa and then drive to Ben Gurion Airport for a night flight home.
Services Included
•meeting and assistance at Ben Gurion Airport on arrival •transfer to/from Ben Gurion Airport •licensed English-speaking guide for all transfers and sightseeing days •luxury air-conditioned coach •entrance fees for all visits and tours •eight nights of hotel accommodation • breakfasts and dinners at hotels and farewell dinner at local restaurant
$4,797.00 per attendee from Washington Dulles International $4,409.00 per attendee without airfare Early bird discount of $50 for reservations made by May 15, 2022, with a $500 deposit. All posted prices, services, and destinations are subject to the terms and conditions of a participant agreement. Irrigation Leader, Municipal Water Leader, and Hydro Leader magazines are published by Water Strategies LLC.
