A strong majority of farmers/ farmworkers say the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their mental health, and more than half say they are personally experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago, according to a new American Farm Bureau poll. The survey of rural adults and farmers/ farmworkers explores how the pandemic has affected their mental health personally and in their communities,

The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division is warning Montana taxpayers about a new wave of COVID-19-related scams as the agency delivers the second round of Economic Impact Payments. In the last several months, IRS-CI has seen a variety of Economic Impact Payment scams and other financial schemes designed to steal money and personal information from taxpayers. Criminals

A bill to provide primary enforcement of seatbelt laws had its first hearing in the House judiciary committee during the Montana legislative session on Tuesday, Jan. 12. The bill is being sponsored by Rep. Frank Smith, D-Poplar. “In the last 20 years, we’ve had quite a few bills like this,” Smith said to the committee. He noted his bill has been “watered down” quite a bit. The fine

Steve Bullock were removed by new Gov. Greg Gianforte Jan. 15. Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos no longer have to close at 10 p.m. Gianforte encourages businesses to follow public health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, but the governor removed capacity limits for businesses. Former Gov. Steve Bullock’s directive requires face masking in any indoor

Montana youth ages 21 and under may be eligible for up to $8,500 in loan financing through the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Junior Agriculture Loan Program. “With the average age of farmers and ranchers being nearly 60 years old, supporting the next generation is vital to Montana’s livelihood,” MDA director Mike Foster said. “The Junior Ag Loan Program plays an important role

er Service, the high wind event has created a shift in the general weather pattern. The area is anticipated to experience colder and wetter conditions until the end of January. Forecast is for high temperatures to be in the 20s during the weekend with lows below zero.

Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 102nd virtual annual convention adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2021. Key topics ranged from farm diversity to farm labor and dairy policy to livestock marketing. For the first time in AFBF history, delegates met and voted virtually due to COVID-19. “Our Farm Bureau delegates showed that no challenge,

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, DMont., visited the new Merril Lundman VA Outpatient Clinic in Havre last week ahead of its scheduled opening on Wednesday, Jan. 20. As ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and a senior member of the appropriations committee, Tester played a significant role in securing the facility and naming it after a Montana veteran. “This clinic is a critical

Because of social distancing concerns, Montana residents can testify about bills in an easier way than normal this session. Part of the Montana Legislature’s website, https://www.leg.mt.gov/ session/have-your-say/, gives people the opportunity to testify remotely. According to the page’s guidelines, you will be able to select from bills that are currently scheduled for hearing during