2024 Legislative Candidate Survey

Grow Montana Food Policy Coalition formed in 2005 to advocate for changes in state policies that would strengthen Montana’s food and agriculture economies. The coalition’s purpose is to promote community economic development and education policies that:

• Support sustainable Montana-owned food production, processing, and distribution 
• Improve all of our citizens’ access to nutritious foods.

The coalition has since led food systems research, produced educational materials, and stewarded significant policy changes to support Montana’s food producers.

Grow Montana invites you, our Montana Legislative Candidates, to take part in this survey to help our coalition members and stakeholders understand where you stand on food and agriculture issues important to the coalition. The results of this survey will be made available to our coalition members and the general public. Your responses will not be used as a scorecard or for endorsements of individual candidates.

Thank you for taking the time to share your views. 

Section Title: Montana Food Processing and Labeling

Grow Montana supports increasing resources for in-state processing of Montana-grown and raised foods. More in-state processing reinforces supply chains resulting in a strong, reliable food system with more Montana food on Montana plates. 

Grow Montana  supports consumer’s rights to make informed decisions about meat consumption. Ensuring that meats grown and raised outside of the United States are labeled with the country of origin allows consumers to make educated decisions about their food purchases – including whether to support state or U.S. based production and processing.  

The Issues: 

• Capacity and Workforce.  Montana now has less food processing capacity (and associated employment) than it did in the 1950’s when we employed more than  3,000 people in the food processing sector.  Our population has nearly doubled, but  there are now only 2,647 people employed in this sector (2021).
• Distribution & Infrastructure. Montana is known world-wide for its animal production (specifically cattle), yet most of the meat consumed in Montana is imported (or re-imported) after it is finished and processed elsewhere.   
• Labeling & Transparency.  Montana does not have mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL).  This means that even if Montana-grown meat is processed in state, there is no requirement to label meat (beef, pork, chicken, etc.) identifying the country from which it originated. 

Question #1) Do you think Montana should expand processing of Montana-grown food for our citizens?  Yes or No

Question #2) In order to expand in-state processing of locally grown and raised food for residents, other states have created workforce training programs in food processing and expanded grant opportunities for small and mid-scale processors. Please select any of the following measures you think Montana should explore. 

Options:

• Create a state-funded grant program for building and expanding processing capacity for Montana-grown and raised foods.
• Develop a workforce training program for butchers and meat cutters in partnership with the Montana Department of Agriculture.
• Increase funding and capacity for food safety education and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HAACP) training through MSU course offerings.
• Other:

Question #3) Do you support the Country of Origin of Labeling (COOL) requirements for beef and pork, knowing that this is a requirement for other foods, including chicken and lamb? 

Section Title: Farm to School and School Meals

Grow Montana supports allocating in-state funding for Montana Farm to School programming and local foods procurement for school meal programs. Montana Farm to School connects kids with local farmers and the healthy, fresh food they produce. Farm to School expands food purchasing and education practices at schools and preschools to prioritize Montana-grown food. Current programs that that involve students, teachers, administration and community members include:

• The Montana-made marinara sauce project – a collaboration between private, non-profit and state agency partners that utilized Montana-grown ingredients. By using statewide distribution through the Office of Public Instruction, the marinara sauce and other value-added products are more accessible to all school food authorities. Each spring, as a part of “Marinara Madness” students, teachers, and community members learn about and celebrate Montana agriculture through activities and farmers visits in the lunchroom
• Montana Harvest of the Month –  a program that promotes Montana grown foods in Montana communities. It provides a framework and materials for farm to school and farm to cafeteria programs, and features a different harvest of the month each season.

Grow Montana supports in-state funding to help schools purchase and use high-quality foods and ingredients in their school meals, resulting in fresher and more nutritious meals for young Montanans. Studies show that students who receive fresh and nutritious meal programming in schools have better academic outcomes, as well as having economic, environmental, and social benefits. 

The Issues: 

• Funding. Dollars for schools to purchase local ingredients is limited and often relies on competitive grants and individual community fundraising.  Food served at school meal programs in Montana are typically funded through federal dollars, school general budgets, and any other grants the schools may have received. With tight budgets, it is difficult for many schools to afford high quality, fresh foods.
• Sustainability. Similarly, Farm to School programming often relies on the support and resources of community organizations fundraising for the programming and is often at risk of expiring due to lack of funding.
• Operating Costs. Continued supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation, and increasing food costs is making it harder for schools to provide quality meals to students. 

Question #4) Are you supportive of allocating funds within the state budget to help Montana school authorities access locally sourced and processed foods? 

Question #5) What suggestions do you have for supporting schools in offering higher-quality school meals? 

• Create a state-funded grant program to support schools in purchasing Montana grown foods
• Provide state-funded partial reimbursement for schools’ purchases of Montana grown food
• Increase funding for wages for school nutrition staff to increase capacity for cooking high-quality meals

Question #6) As described above, Montana currently has successful agriculturally focused educational activities that involve students and community members to learn more about where their food comes from and the farmers who produce it. Would you like to see these programs, or something similar, increased to more school districts? 

Montana Soil Health

Grow Montana supports farmers and ranchers who are adopting innovative grazing and land management practices that rebuild and maintain soil health.. In 2021, Grow Montana introduced a Soil Health Study (SB180) bill at the legislature, which aimed to appoint a soil health task force to explore how the state can promote and support farming and ranching methods that improve the health of our soils, and increase the yield and profitability of our agricultural lands.  SB180 unfortunately did not pass, but was the first soil health bill proposed in the Montana legislature and has led to a larger statewide effort to continue supporting producers and soil health in the state.

In 2023, the Montana Legislature passed the first Soil Health Resolution, which recognizes the first week of April as “Soil Health Week”, with the inaugural celebration in 2024. This was a great step in recognizing the importance of Montana’s  soil health, but there is more work to be done. 

The Issues:

• Deterioration. Common agricultural processes like tillage, monocropping, and the overapplication of fertilizers and synthetic inputs deteriorate soil organic matter over time. 

• Outdated Practices. According to the USDA , Montana agricultural lands typically have lost around 70% of soil organic matter over generations of tillage and soil erosion. common agricultural practices compromise soil’s productivity and cost producers more money in the long term

Question #7) There are five basic practices that can support approaches to fostering the long-term productivity and sustainability of soil in Montana’s agricultural lands.  Are you familiar with any of these practices? Check all that apply:

1. Maximize Presence of Living Roots: Encourage continuous plant growth by having living roots in the soil as much as possible. This enhances soil structure and nutrient cycling.
2. Minimize Disturbance: Avoid excessive tilling or other practices that disrupt the soil. Minimizing disturbance helps maintain soil structure and prevents erosion12.
3. Maximize Soil Cover: Keep the soil covered with vegetation, crop residues, or cover crops. Soil cover protects against erosion, conserves moisture, and supports microbial activity.
4. Maximize Biodiversity: Diverse plant species and beneficial organisms contribute to a healthy soil ecosystem. Biodiversity improves nutrient cycling and resilience1.
5. Integrate Livestock: Grazing animals can enhance soil health by cycling nutrients, breaking up compacted soil, and promoting plant diversity13.

Montana Food Access & Security

Grow Montana supports policy solutions that support public nutrition programs and address underlying causes of hunger. Examples of these programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Double SNAP Dollars program, Montana Produce Prescription Program, as well as support for state food banks and pantries, which provide vital services to many Montanans. More information can be found in the 2023 Montana Hunger Report from Montana Food Bank Network. 

The Issues: 

• Food Insecurity. Hunger is a persistent issue in Montana. Children experiencing food insecurity are more likely to have impaired cognitive development, lower math and reading scores, and higher rates of absenteeism.  Additionally, food insecurity among older adults leads to health problems that include an increased chance of being hospitalized, worsening of chronic conditions, and a weakened immune system. This creates significant economic impacts in our state due to preventable healthcare costs, lower educational attainment, and lost productivity in the workforce.

• Access.  More than 58,000 Montanans live in areas that have limited access to a grocery store or supermarket, making access to fresh, affordable food a daily challenge.

Question #8) Programs like the ones described above help Montanans access fresh, nutritious, locally-grown products as a way to reduce healthcare costs.  Please check the boxes of the programs you support/would like to expand.

• Supplemental Nutrition Incentive Program
• Double SNAP Dollars
• Food Banks and Food Pantries
• Montana Produce Prescription Program

Local Food Systems – Infrastructure & Resilience

Grow Montana supports policies that strengthen all aspects of Montana local food systems including production, processing, distribution, consumption, and recovery. A resilient Montana food system is one that ensures diverse and competitive markets, with fair prices through the supply chain, with adequate state-support for small businesses and economic growth. 

Grow Montana supports continued funding for the Montana Food & Agricultural Development Centers which help Montanans innovate and grow businesses that produce and commercialize food, agricultural, and renewable energy products, and processes. The FADCs support local businesses to create wealth and jobs for our communities, farms, and ranches while expanding Montana’s value-added agriculture industry. There are currently 11 FADCs across Montana and are funded in-part through the state budget.

The Issues:

• Existing Definitions. The definition of Montana Farmers Markets, which are small business incubators and important drivers of community economic development, needs to be reviewed and updated in the Montana Code Annotated. 
• Lack of Incentives. Businesses should be incentivized to purchase and promote Montana grown and raised foods. 
• Funding. Funding for the 11 Montana Food & Agriculture Development Centers, which provide vital resources to food entrepreneurs, must be protected. 

Question #9) Do you support the continued funding of the Montana Food & Agriculture Development Centers? 

Question #10). Are you drafting any legislation in the agricultural sector for the 2025 legislative session?

Question #11).  Are you interested in working with Grow Montana to draft and/or propose legislation during the 2025 legislative session?