Montana

Researchers at the University of Idaho says they have found a correlation between agricultural chemicals and cancers in adults and children in Idaho, and across 11 Western states.  UI researchers analyzed federal and state health and agriculture data, and report a relationship between cancer incidence and pesticide applications in Idaho’s 44 counties, as well as 459 counties in the Western United

How are pasture conditions nationwide? "Good to excellent ratings at 31% of the country; up 3% points from last week," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  "Meanwhile, the very poor to poor ratings 42%, that is down 1% from last week's 43%." ...

The temporary closure of Yellowstone park due to flooding. "Record crests set on Yellowstone River and some of the tributaries across the northern Rockies," noted USDA meterologist Brad Rippey. It's a scenario he said has been caused by a combination of weather events, in addition to recent 2-4" of rainfall in the northern Rockies...

When it comes to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework recently rolled out by the Biden Administration, the reaction across farm country has been mixed. Former Montana Senator Max Baucus, and current co-chair of Farmers for Free Trade, says this was a first step in establishing the U ...

The condition of the national winter wheat crop continues to drop. “ 27% good to excellent, 41% very poor to poor," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. "A week ago we were sitting at 29% and 39% respectively.” Rippey noted over the past week, winter wheat conditions improved slightly in Montana and Colorado, but many of the other Plains states saw either steady or declining conditions

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling on Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to establish a special pay rate for federal wildland firefighters. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden said such a move would help avert critical staffing shortages ahead of the 2022 fire season ...

For the beleaguered winter wheat crop in some of the southern drought areas, "It's quickly becoming the point of no return," according to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. He added the current crop raitings are just terrible for this time of year ...

The first in a series of USDA emergency rule health care grant awards have been announced. "We're awarding $43 million in grants to 93 rural health care organizations and community groups across 22 States,” Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack noted during his recent announcement.  “These i ...

The wheat crop nationwide is facing a variety of challenges this year. "For weeks now we've been watching the status of winter wheat and the poor condition across the central and southern great plains and despite a fairly stormy week last week, it's not surprising that we still have some significant issues with winter wheat condition," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey ...

Karen Sowers, Executive Director of the PNW Canola Association anticipates that despite the weather challenges of 2021, canola acreage will increase this growing season. She noted that more and more producers are learning of the benefits of canola beyond being a rotational crop ...