The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to decrease the current Pork Checkoff assessment rate of 0.40 percent (40 cents per $100) of the market value of all pigs sold in the United States to 0.35 percent. USDA is also proposing to decrease assessments on imported pork and pork products to ensure imported and domestic products receive equal treatment.

While Montana is a large producer of commodity crop the availability of locally grown food products is limited in supply. This is largely an issue of the rural nature of the state, challenging weather conditions and lack of scale among purchasers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is hosting a webinar to provide information regarding a proposed rule that aims to protect American poultry growers from abuses and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. livestock and poultry markets.