Tough year for farmers

by Helen Atthowe, Hamilton

It’s been a tough year for farmers. It started with a devastating late frost and an increase in fertilizer costs due to supply chain disruptions resulting from the war in Iran and closure of the strait of Hormuz. Now it’s ending with record high diesel fuel costs also resulting from the ongoing war with Iran. I was feeling discouraged until I met and talked with Sam Forstag at the Hamilton Farmer’s Market last Saturday. Unlike his opponent for Montana’s 1st Congressional United States House of Representatives seat, Forstag is against the tariffs that have helped to increase the cost of fertilizer, fuel,  and machinery while closing off key markets to Montana exports. He is also against the Trump administration’s cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, resulting in a one-person staffed Farm Services Administration office in Montana, and cuts to the Natural Resource Conservation Service, which supports many soil and water conservation projects for Montana farmers and ranchers. And, Forstag wants to get back the critical grants to Montana farmers and ranchers that were  cancelled by the present administration.  Montana Farmers need some help and policy changes to keep local food available and affordable.  We need policy changes to help the nation’s farmers keep food supplies safe, full of nutrients, and plentiful without sacrificing soil and water quality. I plan to vote for Sam Forstag who understands the problems of and solutions for Montana farmers.