Wolf trappers in Montana would be allowed to use snares under a bill that drew significant debate Tuesday.
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee held a lengthy hearing on House Bill 224 from Rep. Paul Fielder, R-Thompson Falls. The bill would mandate that licensed trappers in Montana be allowed to use snares for wolves. Currently, trappers are only allowed to use foothold traps to capture wolves, although snares may be legally used for other species.
âPresently Montana allows snares as a wildlife management tool for the harvest and taking of furbearers, predators and nongame wildlife, but not wolves,â Fielder told the committee. â⦠Allowing snaring of wolves by licensed trappers will give wildlife managers another tool to reduce wolf numbers, especially in areas where ungulate numbers are stressed by wolves.
The 67th Montana Legislature convened Monday, Jan. 4, in Helena. For those who follow the process from home, this year’s mixed-format session, or “hybrid” as they are calling it, will
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Gov. elect Greg Gianforte announced Wednesday that he’s appointed Mike Foster to take over the state Department of Agriculture.
Foster has worked as the state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in Montana since 2018. He was appointed to that position by President Donald Trump.
Foster has served as a Montana legislator, as a policy adviser to former Republican Gov. Judy Martz and also on the state Board of Regents.
According to a news release from Gianforte, Foster’s appointment has received endorsements from the Montana Grain Growers Association, the Montana Farm Bureau Federation and the Montana Stockgrowers Association.
Gianforte names Foster to lead Ag dept in first director pick missoulian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from missoulian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
MT Farm Bureau: Congressional relief package would boost farmers and ranchers
By: Jonathon Ambarian
and last updated 2020-12-23 11:45:43-05
HELENA â Leaders in the agriculture industry say Montana farmers and ranchers will see significant benefits from the COVID-19 relief and spending package that Congress approved Monday.
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation estimates $13 billion from the stimulus package will directly support agriculture.
They identified a number of specific provisions that will be boosts for Montana growers:
New assistance for growers of specialty crops, including fruits and vegetables
Payments of $20 per acre for crops like wheat and barley
Grants for small meat and poultry processors to upgrade their operations