grain news The official publication of the montana Montana Grain Growers Association InIn ThisThis Issue:Issue: Page 6 MGGA Officers Report on DC Meetings Page 10 MWBC Director Chris Kolstad Elected to USW Board MARCH 2016 Page 21 Urea Volatilization Facts MARCH 2016 PUB #670-490 MARCH 2016 ISSUE NO. 157 Montana Grain News (Pub#670-490) is published once a month for $150 annually by the Montana Grain Growers Association: 750 6th St SW, PO Box 1165, Great Falls, MT 59404 PERIODICAL POSTAGE paid at Great Falls, MT Postmaster: Send address changes to Montana Grain News, PO Box 1165 Great Falls, MT 59403-1165 and additional mailing offices. PERIODICAL not-for-profit organization Montana Grain Growers Association mgn PO Box 1165, Great Falls, MT 59403 Phone 406-761-4596 Fax 406-761-4606 e-mail: [email protected] web sites: www.mgga.org OFFICER www.montanamarketmanager.org CORNER MGGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rob Davis, Larslan President Tom Butcher, Lewistown Vice President Your Leadership Working for You Michelle Erickson-Jones, Broadview Treasurer By Rob Davis, MGGA President Lyle Benjamin, Sunburst Secretary As I sit down to write up this Charlie Bumgarner, Great Falls Past President article, I look outside and see the snow melting away and the water Terry Angvick Plentywood Carl Malesich Dillon beginning to puddle. This makes Phil Davey Columbus Chris Maloney Turner a farmer get a touch of spring Ryan Fast Glasgow Greg Mathews Buffalo fever. I then come to my senses Chad Forest Richland Vince Mattson Chester and remember that it is only the Todd Hansen Gildford Paul Neiman Forsyth middle of February and I live in Tom Horpestad Lavina David Ratzburg Ledger Northeastern Montana where we Nathan Keane Loma John Schutter Manhattan usually don’t consider it to be Dan Kidd Bigfork Josh Stentoft Froid Rob Davis truly spring until at least April. Tryg Koch Kalispell Ben Toeckes Townsend Mitch Konen Fairfield Evan Volf Judith Gap The MGGA leadership just returned from our annual Kristin Krueger Kalispell Kurt Voss Circle trip to Washington, DC. With this being an election year Warren Lybeck Chinook Randy Wolenetz Baker and a change of leadership coming up, it was a little different than normal. We met with all our members of Congress and visited with them on the issues at hand DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE for the Montana Grain Growers. We had a great visit Terry Bartelt Gavilon Grain with them as well at the Montana coffee, which is held every Wednesday for anyone from Montana visiting Mark Black Malteurop Washington, DC. Dan Kolar Northern Seed Farrah McGregor NW Farm Credit Services Crop insurance is a very important program in the Jim Moodie Moodie Implement success of our producers. Without this safety net tool Mike Rydell McMeel Insurance Montana producers would be at great risk of financial loss due to Mother Nature. I am certain all of you are MGGA STAFF plenty aware of this, but we keep reminding them in DC of how important it is. With another Farm Bill on Lola Raska Executive Vice President the horizon, we have concerns that crop insurance will Loree Morgan Bookkeeper once again be on the chopping block for budget cuts. Donna Wilham Administrative Assistant It was great to hear that all of Montana’s congressional members see the importance of this safety net and Printed in USA are committed to fighting for the grain producers of All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization Montana and keeping this program viable. I urge all of making the staement or claim. The publisher does not adapt any such statement you to keep us informed of your concerns on this as we or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect move closer to negotiations of the next Farm Bill. the opinion of the publisher. © Northern Directory Publishing. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Trade programs are another important issue for our producers. With the multi-country signing of TPP, we urged our Senators and Representative to support the agreement when it is sent to them for congressional approval. Montana wheat is well known on the world COVER market for being of high quality and these trade The MGGA Board of Directors at the February board meeting in Lewistown agreements are of utmost importance for getting our Continued on page 4 2 MARCH 2016 Continued from page 2 Working for You... grains out to the world’s buyers. While we had their attention on trade, we also asked for their help in fixing Each month we provide some key areas where the ongoing problems with Canadian grading standards. MGGA leaders and staff have been working on All have been in contact with the new leadership in your behalf. Here is a sampling of important Canada to press for legislation that would lift barriers that issues and activities for February 2016: prevent our wheat from being graded as anything other than feed when it crosses the border. At the winter meeting of the National Barley Growers Association (NBGA) in Washington DC, We discussed proposed regulations the EPA has Montana growers were represented by MGGA released regarding private pesticide applicator training. Director Dan Kidd and MWBC Director Buzz If implemented, these regulations will make it more Mattelin. Also attending were MGGA Director difficult for our producers to stay compliant and keep Michelle Erickson-Jones, Executive Vice President their employees certified. The Waters of the US rule was Lola Raska and MWBC Director Chris Kolstad discussed and there were different views from each of our and Executive Vice President Collin Watters. members, but, even though their approaches differ, all want what is best for Montana agriculture. As part of an effort to increase young grower involvement in NBGA, MGGA Officers Michelle I was very impressed with our visits with Representative Erickson-Jones and Lyle Benjamin met in a Zinke, and Senators Daines and Tester. They all have small group with USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta great respect for the Montana Grain Growers Association Harden and with staff of the Risk Management and look to us as a source of information which they Agency. use to educate themselves on issues involving Montana agriculture. Because Senator Daines has been such a All MGGA officers and EVP Raska were in great help on some of our biggest issues, we presented Washington, DC for the 2016 Wheat Industry him with a National Association of Wheat Growers Winter Conference where they participated in Wheat Advocate Award which recognizes his dedication National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) to Montana’s wheat producers. And behind every great meetings. Senator is a great staff. We also presented Senator Daines’ Ag Legislative Assistant Dan Gerig with a Friend of While in DC, MGGA met with Montana Senators Wheat award for his involvement and help on issues Jon Tester and Steve Daines and Congressman involving wheat producers. We greatly appreciate the Ryan Zinke and their respective staffs. work all of our members of Congress and their staff do for the industry which we all love so much. The MGGA Board of Directors met in Lewistown for their winter board meeting. In addition to Since my return from DC, I attended a meeting in conducting organization business directors heard Plentywood, organized by the Customs and Border Patrol, from invited speakers including Kristen Juras, regarding a “test period” of reduced hours of operation Montana Supreme Court candidate and Lisa at the Port of Raymond. We have sent letters stating our Coverdale, MT NRCS State Conservationist, concerns and the effect this change may have on receiving Jerry Shows, Assistant State Conservationist - crop inputs sourced across the border. I would love to Partnerships, and Erik Suffridge, Assistant State hear of any concerns that you may have. We have the full Conservationist – Programs. support of our Congressional members on this matter as MGGA participated on a conference call well. Hopefully this problem is avoided and delays do not with representatives of the American Malting occur in our receiving seed and fertilizer from north of the Barley Association to discuss problems with border. implementation and proposed changes to the new Malting Barley Endorsement crop insurance With that, I wish all of you the best in the coming year product. of farming. We are in some tougher times with depressed crop prices, but inputs are down as well. I urge all of you MGGA EVP Raska attended a meeting organized to stick with a marketing plan, and not chase too many by the Montana Department of Ag to discuss markets. It seems when you plant according to current details of proposed pesticide fee changes and market prices you are always a year behind. This is not other possible statute and rule changes regarding the first time wheat prices have been on the low side. pesticide use and licensing. We survived before, and we will make it through again. If there are any issues or comments you want us to hear, MGGA participated in the 2016 Montana Ag please let me know. We must start thinking about Farm Experiment Station Planning Conference in Bill negotiations coming up and would love any member Bozeman. input. As leadership, we work for you, our members. Enjoy the coming change of seasons! 4 MARCH 2016 Report by Vice President Tom Butcher MGGA Officers Report on DC I participated in the Research and Technology and Joint Biotech Committee meetings while at NAWG meetings Meetings in DC. There are many exciting new innovations in the Genome Sequencing Project which will enable more rapid crossing of new wheat varieties.