Drummond, Mont. - Smokejumper and union leader Sam Forstag today met with farmers and ranchers from across western Montana to discuss the challenges facing ag producers as they deal with the impacts of skyrocketing fuel, input and equipment prices.
“It’s hard enough to make a living working the land in Montana without the government going out of its way to make things worse. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what our farmers and ranchers are facing today,” Forstag said. “The profit margins for farming and ranching have always been thin - but reckless tariffs, another war jacking up input costs, and 300,000 tons of subsidized foreign beef are making it nearly impossible to keep family operations afloat. We need ag policy that helps local farmers and ranchers stay in business instead of boosting profits for the corporations that bankroll Aaron’s campaign while they fix prices and buy up our land. In Congress, I’ll fight to be a voice for those Montanans, and to make sure local producers get the support and consistency they need so they can keep serving our state by growing and raising affordable, local food.”
Local farming and ranching are at the core of Montana’s heritage, the health of our people, and the sustainability of our food systems. Over the last few years, our farmers and ranchers have faced chaotic tariffs, consolidation of farms and ranches, and price fixing from large corporations who use their size to squeeze small- and mid-scale producers. Farming and ranching are volatile businesses by nature, but those are the sorts of challenges that Congress needs to help solve.
Sam will fight to give Montana’s producers the support and consistency they need and be an ally in Congress so that they can continue serving our state by growing and raising affordable, local food.
Here’s how:
· Require Country of Origin Labeling for the broadest possible list of farm and ranch products so that American consumers know where the food they buy is sourced.
· Pass a federal right to repair into law so large corporations can’t squeeze producers for more after they’ve already bought the equipment they rely on.
· End market manipulation by the biggest meat and poultry packers by requiring price transparency through a publicly available database.
· Lower costs and help Montana’s small- and mid-scale food producers compete with corporations by expanding investments in federal meat inspectors and in technical assistance to small-scale, local meat packing, and incentives to support agricultural cooperatives.
· Require congressional approval for tariffs to give Montana’s farmers and ranchers the stability they need & deserve.
· Support programs and resources to help young Montanans take over family farms and ranches or start their own, so that our state’s agricultural industry can feed the next generation.
