Contact: Lyndsay Bruno Communications Director Montana Farmers Union 406-452-6406l bruno@montanafarmersunion.com
GREAT FALLS, MT (June 14, 2017) – The 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire in September of 2018. In anticipation Montana Farmers Union is partnering with key ag organizations and business leaders to hold a Farm Bill session in Great Falls June 28 at the Montana Cooperative Development Center.(located in the First Interstate Bank building) The organization is focusing on collaboration amongst groups including agribusiness, the Montana Food Bank Network, Farm Service Agency, the Montana Department of Livestock and the Montana Department of Agriculture. The ultimate goal of the organization is to get a comprehensive piece of legislation without cuts to farm payments and the nutrition program. Also important is a focus on strengthening the farmer to consumer connection by providing education on how the Farm Bill affects everyone including the consumer, the agribusiness sector, those who partake in the SNAP nutrition program and our rural communities - not just farmers and ranchers. President of Montana Farmers Union Alan Merrill said it’s more important than ever to engage the consumer in the crafting of the next Farm Bill. “We’ve lost much of an important connection between farmers and consumers. This session is an excellent opportunity to restore some of that connection. We like to think of the Farm Bill more as a food bill, in that it affects us all. This event will include key stakeholders from the ag industry and will be very interactive. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and gather information. We want to hear from consumers and producers alike as to their priorities for Farm Bill.” Panelists of the Farm Bill session will include: Matt Perdue of National Farmers Union; Mike Honeycutt , Director of the Montana Department of Livestock; Ben Thomas, Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture(tentative); Lorianne Burhop with the Montana Food Bank Network; Brian Hoven of Hoven Equipment, Rusty Cowan and Janet Smith representing the Farm Service Agency(FSA) and Jeff Dow of Farmers Union Insurance. Each of the panelists will discuss their expertise as it relates to the Farm Bill and be available for questions. Event Details Ø What: Farm Bill Session: Expectations of the 2018 Farm Bill/ Q & A Session; Hosted by Montana Farmers UnionØ When: June 28th at 1:30Ø Where: Heritage Inn, Great FallsØ RSVP to Lyndsay Bruno, Communications Director at 452-6406 or at lbruno@montanafarmersunion.com
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