I looked around the cafe, saw that the rancher’s table was filled, and then noticed there was a seat at the farmer’s table, so I considered joining them. I mean how bad could it be? So, I went over to the dark side and asked the clodhoppers if they’d mind if I joined them? “Sure, pull up a seat,” farmer #1 said. “We have no prejudices here. Your ball cap may advertise a bull while mine advertises a CAT. You go to Denver to see all the newest squeeze chutes, while we go to Tulare’s Farm Equipment Show to see...

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CPW biologists received a mortality alert for male gray wolf 2505-BC this past weekend, March 16. The agency has confirmed the mortality took place in north-central Wyoming. 2505-BC was part of the group of wolves translocated to Colorado from British Columbia and came from areas where there is no overlap between wolves and livestock. Wolves are known to travel long distances to find food or mates, including into other states. The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in Wyoming was conducting livestock depredation mitigation in response to multiple livestock losses in Wyoming. CPW does...

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A proposal from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to impose new fees on ocean carriers with ties to China could take a major toll on America’s farmers and ranchers. Two-thirds of all agriculture exports by volume are shipped overseas, and the cost of transporting them to international trading partners could increase dramatically.   In an effort to address China’s dominance in global shipbuilding and logistics, the Trump administration has proposed a series of fees targeting Chinese-operated vessels and Chinese-built vessels that access American ports. Individual fees would go as high as [post_excerpt].5 million per port call. American Farm Bureau Federation...

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ACH Seeds, a leading U.S. sugarbeet seed company and marketer of Crystal Brand Sugarbeet Seed, is now accepting nominations for its 2025 Homegrown Giving program. Once again, rural communities are invited to nominate and recognize outstanding local organizations making a difference. This year, ACH Seeds will award ,000 in total funding, with six deserving organizations each receiving ,000 to support their vital work. Since launching in 2022, the Homegrown Giving program has contributed 0,000 to local organizations, strengthening rural communities and supporting essential initiatives. Past recipients have fought rural food insecurity, enhanced school-based Class A CDL training programs, expanded agricultural...

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Colby and Emma Anderson feeding cattle...with Lucy Goosey...you never know what kind of critters get to help feed!  Colby and Emma are from White Bird, Idaho. Photo courtesy of Amber Anderson.

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This week we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, National Ag Day, and the First Day of Spring. I am trying to be extra careful this week, so I am going to avoid all festivities for those occasions, because we start calving this week. I am not sure if it is just strange coincidences, clumsiness, misalignment of the stars, or what, but I have a history of becoming an invalid just in time for calving season. I think my husband and my son are starting to think I am developing psychosomatic injuries to get out of night calving checks. Last year, I...

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A tinge of green grass taunts winter. The cows waddle to the hay I spread. Sweat, a stranger for the last five months, cools my arms and face as I work. Get ready, I think to myself. My favorite season is coming. Real life - here and now and commanding all of my attention - is about to commence. Some of my neighbors already have calves on the ground, some delay their season for another month or two. All of us know this time of year can be exhausting, exhilarating, discouraging, or any combination of the three. We know we...

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The Frances McCartney family, is proud to announce the release of their patent-pending 'FE' pie cherry, a cold hardy, unique and flavorful variety that has been cultivated through decades of family history. With a rich history stretching back over 60 years, the 'FE' (patent pending) pie cherry is now available for sale. The journey to the 'FE' (patent pending) cherry began in the 1960s when Frances McCartney (known affectionately as "Momma McCartney") planted a grafted North Star cherry tree in her garden in Great Falls, MT. A new variety was discovered after suckers were left to grow to replace the...

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Around 2013, I was helping my friend Tom gather and move a bunch of heifers several miles to another pasture. His spread is in the Nebraska Sandhills, great cowboy and cattle country. The best part is that horses are required for just about everything associated with cattle. It grows a bunch of very good cowboys and cattle. Other than cattle, it grows tasty potatoes. So, what could be better - meat, potatoes, and gravy! This day, his crew consisted of his son, wife, daughter, and me. We were all saddled up and ready to head out when his seven-year-old daughter...

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Late this February, I had the opportunity to be a part of, and watch, Governor Gianforte sign into law a bill brought forth by former underground miner turned legislator Curtis Schomer (48th House District), designating every February 9 as Montana Mining Day. I also brought a bill forth, House Resolution 2, which is being sent to the Montana Congressional delegation as well as President Trump. The resolution is a letter in support of the exploration, development, processing, refining, recycling, and reuse of critical minerals in Montana. Now, on the surface, these two bills may not appear to be a big...

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