Gianforte hold press conference during Ag Week

Gov. Greg Gianforte held a press conference Thursday where he talked about Montana Agriculture Week and detailed some of his plans to support Montana agricultuial producers.

Gianforte said he had a roundtable with many of the state's agricultural leaders.

He said the message he received was that Montana's "regulatory schemes" bury ag producers in red tape and he hopes his Red Tape Relief Task Force will be able to address that.

He said ag producers complained of taxes they need to pay on equipment they only use for two months out of the year and said the BIG Jobs Act should help lower those taxes.

Montana's tax code now exempts the first $100,000 of a business' equipment and charges a 1.5 percent rate for up to $6 million worth of additional equipment.

When asked what other regulations were causing ag producers trouble he said concerns were expressed across the board.

He said anyone with suggestions for the task force could submit ideas to https://governor.mt.gov .

Gianforte said he also heard a desire to increase meat processing in the state and he and the legislature recently added meat cutting as a skilled trade eligible for the Montana Trades Education Credit, potentially offering businesses a 50 percent credit for employees that want to learn a trade.

Montana Department of Agriculture Mike Foster thanked Gianforte for proclaiming Ag Week and touted the importance of the industry.

"Our farmers and ranchers are second to none in the entire world," Foster said.

He said every 10 jobs in the sector generate six more in other industries in the state and ag is poised for tremendous growth in the near future.

"I came away from yesterday's roundtable with incredible excitement," he said.

Foster said he wants his department to be a resource for producers and encouraged them to reach out with their needs.

Montana Department of Livestock Executive Officer Mike Honeycutt said under Gianforte his department is committed to improving the infrastructure that will help the private sector thrive.

Gianforte also provided an update on the state of COVID-19 in Montana as well as the state's vaccination efforts.

He said 430,000 doses of vaccine have been administered and the state will soon see another increase in weekly allocation with 7,000 more doses this week than last.

April 1 is when Phase 2 of the state's distribution plan, in which all Montanans 16 and older, will begin, he said, but COVID-19 Task Force Director Maj. Gen. Matthew Quinn said many counties are already moving into the phase.

Thursday saw Hill County's first vaccine clinic for people 18 and older, and Blaine and Liberty counties also are taking appointments for all people 18 and older and arranging vaccinations for people 16 and 17, as is Hill County. Chouteau County is doing so as vaccine is available.

Gianforte encouraged everyone to get the vaccine so Montana can "put the pandemic to bed."

Quinn also encouraged Montanans to get the vaccine as well as to continue to take precautions he and countless other health officials have detailed many times before.

Throughout, the pandemic, people have been urged to wear cloth masks if out in public, to avoid large gatherings, to stay home if they don't need to go out, to not leave home if they are ill, regularly wash their hands and clean and disinfect surfaces.

Gianforte said the state is looking at ways to get more people authorized to give out the vaccine to make distribution faster.

Gianforte and Quinn said migrant workers, who are vital to Montana's ag industry, will be able to receive the vaccine through federally qualified health centers, and county health departments are reaching out to make sure they are protected.

Gianforte also addressed a recent controversy regarding a collared wolf that he trapped under improper circumstances.

Gianforte was issued a written warning by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks last month for having failed to take a required trapping education course before he trapped and killed a collared wolf on private land about 10 miles north of Yellowstone National Park last month on a ranch owned by Robert E. Smith, the director of Sinclair Broadcasting Group and a contributor to Gianforte's 2017 congressional campaign.

When asked if he had set the trap himself Gianforte said he did along with a friend and mentor of his who helped, although he did not give the name of the other individual.

He said it was a mistake that he has since rectified but he wouldn't have done anything differently.

"It was a tremendous honor to be able to harvest a wolf here in Montana," he said.

Gianforte also addressed bills making their way through the legislature that would limit the authority of local public health departments.

He said he wouldn't comment on House Bill 121 until he's able to get a look at the final version, but said health officials should have oversight by elected officials.