Briefs for Oct. 21, 2020
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Enrollment begins for 2021 Ag programs
News from FSA
WASHINGTON D.C. — Agricultural producers can now make elections and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2021 crop year. The signup period opened Tuesday, Oct. 13. These key U.S. Department of Agriculture safety-net programs help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops, and more than $5 billion in payments are in the process of going out to producers who signed up for the 2019 crop year.
Shooting range grants open
News from MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks
HELENA — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has announced that the application period to apply for a shooting range improvement grant is now open. Completed applications must be received no later than Feb. 1.
Montana’s Shooting Range Grant Program, administered by FWP, provides funding to non-profit shooting clubs, organizations, local governments and school districts to build and improve public shooting ranges throughout the state.
To learn more about the Shooting Range Grant Program, and to download this year’s grant application, visit FWP’s website at: fwp.mt.gov. Click “Recreation,” then “Activities” and then “Shooting Ranges.”
Online registration is available via the Montana Grants & Loans website at: https://funding.mt.gov/index.do. For information more call 406-444-9947.
Completed Shooting Range Grant applications may be mailed to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Shooting Range Grant Program, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.
St. Ignatius Senior Center thanks all
News from the St. Ignatius Senior Center
ST. IGNATIUS — Thank you to all the wonderful people who donated items to the St. Ignatius Senior Citizen Center for the Oct. 4 and 5 Rummage and Bake sale.
A second gigantic thank you goes to all the folks who came and purchased items. It was a great success and we appreciate all the donations and all who came to browse and buy.
The sale couldn’t have happened without all the senior participants who helped to set up the outdoor sale on Friday, stayed to man the sale and then helped bring the items back into the building on Friday evening.
Saturday was another set up for the sale and senior members stayed to man the sale that day as well. All leftover items were loaded in a pickup to be taken to Sister Sallie’s and Twice but Nice in Ronan.
We appreciate the community we live in.
Our current plan is to have an in-house Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 15 at 5:30 p.m. If you are planning on coming to the dinner, please call 406-745-4462 and let us know before noon on that day. Hope to see you there. Due to COVID, this is subject to change.
Tribal nation flags raised in front of State Capitol
HELENA — On Wednesday, Oct.14, Governor Steve Bullock and Lt. Governor Mike Cooney joined members of the eight tribal nations in Montana to honor the raising of all eight flags permanently over the Montana State Capitol at the newly constructed Tribal Flag Plaza. The plaza was approved with strong bipartisan support from the 2019 Montana State Legislature with the passage of HB 524, by Rep. Marvin Weatherwax.
Conservation Partnership Program deadline extended
News from USDA
WASHINGTON D.C. — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service today re-posted a revised Regional Conservation Partnership Program funding announcement, inviting potential conservation partners to submit project proposals for federal funding. NRCS will award up to $360 million to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.
The original announcement had stated that “Forest land eligibility does not encompass industrial forest lands that are owned by companies, organizations, and individuals who engage in commercially oriented forest management and production activities.” NRCS has removed this language, which partners may have interpreted as limiting opportunities for RCPP projects on forest lands where eligible activities would help achieve conservation benefits.
NRCS has also extended the proposal deadline to Nov. 30, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. To learn more about the opportunity for funding, read the Aug. 6 announcement and for more information on how to apply, view the Application for Program Funding on grants.gov.
USDA issues $1.68B in payments
News from the USDA
WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes.
Dairy decision tool now available
News from USDA
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WISCONSIN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture began accepting applications for the Dairy Margin Coverage program on Tuesday, Oct. 13, for 2021 enrollment.
WHIP+ deadline nears
News from the USDA
WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Friday, Oct. 30, is the deadline to submit applications for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus for 2018 and 2019 losses. USDA did not originally specify a deadline when the program was announced.
USDA offers secure online options
News from FSA, USDA
BOZEMAN – Farmers and ranchers working with USDA’s Farm Service Agency or Natural Resources Conservation Service can now sign and share documents online in just a few clicks. By using Box or OneSpan, producers can digitally complete business transactions without leaving their homes or agricultural operations. Both services are free, secure, and available for multiple FSA and NRCS programs.
