Drive-In and Fly-In for MFU Legislative Action

GREAT FALLS, MT (March 19, 2007) – The Montana Farmers Union (MFU) will hold a legislative “Drive In” in Helena, Tuesday, March 20, 2007, and participate in National Ag Day activities at the Capitol. The following week MFU members will join National Farmers Union members from across the country in Washington, D.C. for its annual spring Fly-In.

Montana Farmers Union members from Shelby, Dutton, Power and Billings will participate in the National Ag Week activities that the Department of Agriculture has planned for Tuesday. In addition, they will visit with legislators to encourage support for several specific issues: ending Fast Track, support for biodiesel, and support for Montana grown and raised agriculture.

“The food and fuel focus really captures many of our goals for this legislative session,” said MFU Executive Director Tracy Houck. “In particular, we support alternative energy activities in the state, we support the economic development and health aspects of locally grown and raised food, and we support biodiesel production and incentives for in-state producers.

Discussions in Washington, D.C. will center on four points: the 2007 Farm Bill, Disaster Relief, the FY2008 Ag Budget, and Country-of-Origin Labeling.

“The focus on the national level is similar to that in the state,” said Houck. “We believe that independent family farmers and ranchers are best positioned to provide food, fuel and fiber in an economic and socially and environmentally beneficial way for all.”

Those attending the Fly-in are MFU President Alan Merrill; Leonard Stone, MFU board, Geraldine; Ken Beard, Montana Farmers Union Insurance agent and producer, Billings; Kristi Pettis, Northern Ag Network, Billings; and MFU Executive Director Tracy Houck.

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