Page 5 - Jay Bodner News Today

Montana Ag Network: Some Ranchers Frustrated with BLM Decision on Wild Bison MTN and last updated 2021-07-05 01:10:12-04 BILLINGS — The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is expressing disappointment in the release of BLM’s draft environmental assessment finding no significant impact for a bison grazing proposal submitted by the American Prairie Reserve (APR). Montana Ag Network: Some Ranchers Frustrated with BLM Decision on Wild Bison MSGA vice president Jay Bodner says in recen...

How grizzlies fared the 2021 Montana legislative session Critics say the shift in management efforts will lead to more grizzlies dying and fly in the face of federal protections of the animal. But supporters of the changes say it will help protect people and livestock from threats of a ballooning grizzly population. Written By: Keith Schubert / Daily Montanan | 4:28 pm, May 19, 2021 × Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and credited to Frank Van Manen. Bo...

Leopold wolf following grizzly bear A slate of bills making their way through Montana’s legislative session indicate a potential sea change in how the Treasure State will manage big carnivores and who gets a say in making those decisions. Nicky Ouellet: Rachel, we’re halfway through Montana’s legislative session. Can you bring us up to speed on several bills that made it through the transmittal deadline that take aim at reducing the wolf population in Montana? Rachel Cramer: Earlier thi...

Supporters of House Bill 505, brought by Speaker of the House Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, said they appreciated the incentive-based approach to address ballooning elk numbers in many areas and their impact to landowners. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is legally obligated to manage elk to objectives, meaning population targets based on biological factors and social tolerance of the animals. In many hunting districts elk have topped and in some places far exceed objectives, leading to extended â...

The House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee is taking up a bill Tuesday carried by Speaker of the House Wylie Galt that would institute new landowner-sponsored elk hunting licenses in districts at population objectives and a bonus point boost for hunters deciding to hunt cow elk on private land in over-objective districts. House Bill 505 was borne from a concept developed internally at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The bill aims to incentivize private landowners and hunters to work to reduce e...

Meat on display at the Safeway grocery store in Bozeman, Feb. 17, 2021. Farm and ranching groups want people to buy more Montana beef, but they’re split on whether proposed state level legislation would do that. In the meat section at grocery stores, meat products like spare ribs often bear stickers: “Product of USA.” Many ranchers say this label is misleading consumers. That’s because imported beef and pork processed and re-packaged in the US can get this label, as can the meat from li...

Overlooking the Missouri River from the American Prairie Reserve in northeastern Mont., June 2005. Correction: The original post said the American Prairie Reserve will expand its disease management plan by testing 325 bison each year for the bacterial disease brucellosis for the first five years and then 150 bison annually for the next five years. The story has been updated to reflect the American Prairie Reserve will test 325 bison total during the first five years of the settlement agreement ...

HELENA, Montana (AP) — Two northwest Montana lawmakers are considering a number of bills that could moderately or significantly change the way Montana manages wolves. Sen. Bob Brown and Rep....

Two northwest Montana lawmakers are considering a number of bills that could moderately or significantly change the way Montana manages wolves. Sen. Bob Brown and Rep. Paul Fielder, both Republicans from Thompson Falls, have drafted legislation ranging from including wolf licenses in big game combination licenses and expanding trapping seasons to reclassifying the animals as predators similar to coyotes, meaning they could be killed year-round without a license. Other bill proposals include ...

Montana ag leaders weigh in on Vilsacks return as Agriculture Secretary Montana ag leader react to Vilsack pick to head ag department By: Russell Nemetz and last updated 2020-12-10 12:44:11-05 BILLINGS — President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to return as head of USDA, a position he held for eight years for President Barack Obama. During his time at USDA, Vilsack implemented two farm bills, which included important safety ...