Tester, Baucus secure more than $7 million for Montana agriculture projects

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Montana will receive more than $7 million in funding for Agriculture projects, thanks to a funding bill passed by a key Senate panel, Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus announced today.

The funding is part of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill passed by Senator Jon Tester and his colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The bill is one of 12 appropriations bills that will fund the federal government for the next fiscal year.  The bill now goes to the full Senate for approval.  It must then be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by the President.

“This is an investment in Montana’s farmers and ranchers,” said Tester, who secured Montana’s funding in the Agriculture Appropriations Bill.  “These projects are smart initiatives that will help keep our way of life sustainable for future generations. I’ll support these projects every step of the way.”

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and these projects play a vital role in ensuring that our farmers and ranchers have the best resources available,” said Senator Max Baucus, who worked closely with Tester in securing Montana’s funding.  “Montanans from all walks of life will benefit from these projects, and I will always fight to support the right projects for the Treasure State."

Montana will receive $7,472,000 in the Agriculture Appropriations Bill, including:

• $2.8 million to provide technical assistance for farmers and ranchers through the National Center for Appropriate Technology, based in Butte.
• $2.5 million for construction of an Animal Biosciences Research Facility on Montana State University’s Bozeman campus that will house research to improve beef production.

The Senate Appropriations Committee also instructed the United States Department of Agriculture to give special consideration to grant applications that may be submitted by the Fort Belknap Buffalo Program and the Montana Food and Agriculture Innovation Centers.

Below is a list of Montana projects secured by Tester and Baucus in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill:

Montana projects secured by Tester and Baucus
Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill

MONTANA TOTAL:  $7,472,000

National Center for Appropriate Technology – based in Butte: $2.8 million provide technical assistance for farmers and ranchers.

Montana State University: $3.822 million

• $2.5 million for construction of the Animal Bioscience Research Facility.
• $305,000 to continue work on developing an effective vaccine to reduce the risk of brucellosis infection in cattle.
• $547,000 to further development of quality barley varieties at the Barley for Rural Development Center. 
• $270,000  to develop and implement new management strategies for livestock and land managers to control non-native plants through the Targeted Grazing for Managing Invasive Plants Program. 
• $200,000 to help ranchers manage cattle herds and beef production to ensure Montana beef remains the highest quality through the Montana Beef Network.

Brucellosis Management for Montana's Greater Yellowstone Area through the Montana Department of Livestock: $650,000 to conduct brucellosis prevention and development and implement brucellosis herd management plans for area ranchers. 

Watershed Restoration Coalition – Upper Clark Fork Landowner Outreach Initiative: $200,000 to conserve and restore the upper Clark Fork River Valley.

IN ADDITION:

Tri-State Predator Control: $926,000 – The  Montana Wool Growers will participate in this multi-state program to manage and control predators affecting livestock herds and wildlife.