Bozeman is playing host to the Montana Farm Bureau Federation for the group’s summer meetings. As spring planting wraps up and cattle are turned out to green grass, Farm Bureau members gather in the Gallatin Valley to look at the issues impacting the state’s number one industry.
According to MFBF President Hans McPherson, a big part of this year’s summer meeting is celebrating the organization’s centennial.
“We started out the year with celebrations that continue now and throughout the fall,” said McPherson. “We’re back here in Bozeman after being absent for many years. We’re back here because this is where our first annual conventions ever were held.”
Laura Nelson has complied the history of Montana Farm Bureau over the last several years. She shared how MFBF and Montana State College (Montana State University) worked together to improve agriculture in the state.
“What’s really exciting about summer conference being hosted here in Bozeman is a celebration of Farm Bureau’s original connection to the extension services,” Nelson said. “Farm Bureau’s origin came out of being the first grassroots farmer to farmer educational tool that extension services used to get out in the country and start teaching these new farmers. Back in 1919, Montana was still at the height of the homesteading boom. So these new farmers needed educational tools to help them better themselves and elevate agriculture as an industry. And the Farm Bureau was the grassroots member to member tool that the extension service is used to do that.”
A centennial video will premiere at the meeting sharing Farm Bureau’s role in the state of Montana. In addition, this fall a history book written by Laura Nelson will be published that shares Montana Farm Bureau’s 100-year history.
“What I’m so excited about when it comes to the Centennial Celebration book is the fact that it’s an opportunity for us to reflect back on a hundred years of Farm Bureau, and not just Farm Bureau, but Montana Agriculture,” said Nelson. “When we look back on that history, I think three things really come out to me and that’s a focus on education, on our community, and on a unified voice for agriculture. And that’s those are three things that I think we can be really proud of and three things that we can celebrate and be striving for in our future as well.”
The Montana Farm Bureau centennial celebrations will continue throughout the summer and then conclude this fall in November at the group’s annual meeting in Billings
Tuesday’s World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates was released by U.S. Department of Agriculture. All wheat production was raised 6 mb from May to 1.9 bb, and winter wheat was pegged 6 mb higher at 1.2 bb. Feed and residual use for 2019-20 was projected to be 50 mb higher than in May as possible quality and protein issues might work their way into rations at feed yards.
For the world numbers, wheat production was raised by 3.3 mmt (121 mb), with Russian and Ukrainian wheat production pegged 1 mmt higher each. World wheat ending stocks were raised 1.3 mmt to another new record-large carryout of 294.3 mmt (10.8 bb).
Also, USDA reported this week, as was expected, lower acres planted for corn and soybeans in the Midwest do to flooding and damp conditions that have hampered our planting in 2019.
-Reported by Lane Nordlund/MTN News
