Central Montana Resource Council

04/15/2024

Check out these awesome events in central Montana coming up from the Montana Farmers Union

04/10/2024

The Green Share Project Garden in partnership with Central Montana Resource Council will present the third annual Fergus Fresh educational series in Lewistown this April. The series consists of two educational presentations and one film screening focused on food security, sound nutrition and land stewardship. All events are free and require no registration.

On Saturday April 13, locals Sally Karinen and Susan Lohmuller, both experienced small farmers/market gardeners will discuss vegetable gardening and small livestock husbandry as a means to food security and self-reliance. That afternoon, soil health specialist Kendall Morgan will give a primer on evaluating and improving soil. On Saturday April 20, Cameron Skinner, owner of Living Soil Farm in Big Timber, MT will present on soil health, vegetable farming, and regenerative agriculture. Both events will include ample time for Q&A and interaction with the presenters.

Timing and location are as follows: April 13 from 9AM to 3PM and April 20 from 9AM to 4PM at the Council on Aging at 307 W Watson St., Lewistown. A free lunch will be provided at 12PM on both days.

03/30/2024

Hi Folks,

Some (cautiously) good news for ranchers that we have been working on has come our way from D.C. on a couple of fronts.

USDA Finalizes Product of USA Policy

Recently, the USDA finalized a policy that will prevent large meatpacking corporations and grocery stores from fraudulently labeling foreign beef as a Product of USA. Previously, beef could be raised, slaughtered, and processed in another country, shipped to the US, repackaged, and called "Product of USA." This new policy requires documentation showing that beef was "born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States" to label it as American. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

However, the rule only addresses half of the issue. "Product of USA" labels are voluntary, meaning packers can still flood the American market with unlabeled cheap foreign beef. This drives down prices for American ranchers leading to the loss of family ranches and worse land stewardship outcomes for the land. We still need mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) to ensure we know where our beef is coming from. Finally, any policies passed by the USDA can be rolled back by a new administration so getting a bill passed in Congress is still very important!

USDA Continues to Update the Packers and Stockyards

The Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) was passed in 1921. At the time, the government was concerned that large meatpackers were manipulating markets and acting as anti-competitive monopolies. Over the last 100 years since the passage of the law, the effectiveness of PSA has been undermined by cuts to federal enforcement and new forms of contracting introduced by the packers. This is leading to a future in which the cattle industry could be vertically integrated like swine and poultry which could have devastating effects on the land.
The USDA just introduced a new policy within the Packers and Stockyards Act to address retaliation. In the past, the packers have used their power to scare producers from testifying or publicly criticizing the current system. The new policy from the USDA aims to protect the livelihoods of ranchers who criticize the existing system by making it illegal for the packers to deny contracts or make business decisions to hurt ranchers who speak up.

Reminder: 3 members of our congressional delegation do not currently support country-of-origin-labeling legislation.

Please take a moment to stand up for Montana’s family ranchers by adding your name to the letter below: Senator Daines, Senator Tester, Representative Rosendale, Representative Zinke: Cattle producers are […]

02/05/2024

We have been in the news lately! Check out these stories on our efforts to improve water quality (and quantity) in Central Montana as well as solarize!

https://www.lewistownnews.com/news/central-montanans-adopt-solar-as-state-adapts-to-new-energy-source/article_ffcfca0a-a5de-11ee-ae2b-63f83c7bbc5a.html

https://www.krtv.com/news/montana-and-regional-news/impaired-waterways-of-montana

The Central Montana Resource Council held a seminar in Lewistown to discuss Montana's Impaired Waterways.

01/16/2024

“Hot Chili, Cold Beer and Clean Water” Impaired Montana waters Seminar in Lewistown Jan 30. Enjoy hot chili & cold beer while you learn about the condition of our waterways in Montana, what makes a stream impaired and why it matters, at a free community seminar to be held Jan 30 in Lewistown.

The seminar provides a first-hand look at impaired waterways in Montana, and the impacts for ranchers, farmers and community members. Three dynamic speakers - Dr. Rachel Malison- program director Monitoring Montana Waters; Dr. Adam Sigler-Extension Water Quality Specialist MSU Bozeman; and Clint Smith-Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Lewistown - will explain what this means, and what we can do to improve habitat and water quality. Our three speakers and Montana Salinity Associates executive director Scott Brown will take your questions during a QA session.

The seminar will be held 6-8pm, Tues Jan 30, 2024 at the Community Center at 307 W Watson Street, in Lewistown. Door opens and refreshments will be served at 5:30. Attendees may pre-register by calling MSU Fergus Extension at 406-535-3919 or email [email protected] by Jan 26. However, it’s fine to register at the door.

"It is important work to learn about our water, and then to build a movement among the people of Central Montana to keep
our water clean, beautiful and plentiful,” said CMRC member Deb Biehl. “US Senator Mark Udall got it right when he said:
‘Clean water is essential. Ranchers need clean water for their stock, farmers need it for their crops, every employer needs it to stay in business, and every living being needs it for life.'"

We’ll look at challenges, opportunities and solutions to improve impaired waterways across the State, and right here in Central
Montana.

The Jan 30 seminar is sponsored by Central Montana Resource Council, Big Spring Creek Watershed Council, Monitoring Montana Waters, and MSU Extension. It is free and open to the public.

11/29/2023

Do you want the state to pursue federal grant money to help our schools with infrastructure upgrades?

Right now, the state of Montana is considering a grant program for Montana schools to make energy efficiency upgrades using federal money, but they need to hear from communities that people actually want this program!

If your community’s school has experienced difficulties with HVAC systems (like an old boiler!), weatherization and insulation, energy inefficiency or high energy costs, please submit a comment at https://northernplains.org/cam.../energy-efficiency-schools/ or reach out to [email protected]! We want you to tell your story! (and share with friends too!)

Submit a comment to tell the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to support energy efficiency upgrades for schools!

07/31/2023

Want to learn how you can save money with solar? Join us for a free solar seminar on August 2 at 6:30 PM at the Gilles Stockton Ranch just two miles from Grass Range at 23090 Forest Grove Road.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn about 2023 USDA solar grants and federal incentives that could pay up to 65% of the cost for your ranch or commercial solar system. Hear from local solar owners, and get your questions answered about incentives, net metering, and maintenance by certified solar installer Bozeman Green Build.

If you’re interested in solar opportunities at your property, this is a good chance to sign up for a free assessment—no strings attached!

Enjoy light refreshments while you learn about becoming more self-reliant with solar!

Sponsored by Central Montana Resource Council, a grassroots community organization dedicated to sustaining water, air, land and food for this and future generations

03/21/2023

This Saturday, March 25th, from 9am-12pm at the Lewistown Art Center (323 W. Main St.), please join us for a FREE workshop organized by CMRC's Green Share Project Garden about how to successfully garden in Central Montana. No better way to kick off the start of spring!

You'll be able to hear from a panel of experienced, local gardeners telling their stories about what works and doesn't work, and how and why they garden. There will be the opportunity for Q&A.

10/18/2022

TOMORROW, Wednesday, October 19th, CMRC will be celebrating the success of our Solarize Central Montana campaign!

A Solar Tour and Celebration will take place 5:00-8pm, which begins and ends at Lewistown Public Library.

Attendees will visit 3 new solar installations around Lewistown; 2 rooftop installations, and one ground mount. Tour carpools are provided and attendees should meet at the Lewistown Library Book Station parking lot at 5pm, with carpools leaving at 5:15pm sharp.


Returning at 6:45pm, attendees will gather at Library Upstairs to meet certified installer Bozeman Green Build, get solar questions answered, and mingle with new solar system owners. Can't make the tour? Join us at 6:45 for a solar presentation and Q&A. Light refreshments will be served and we’ll toast the 2022 Solarize program’s success.

08/19/2022