[EasyDNNGallery|1386|Width|300|Height|300|position||resizecrop|False|lightbox|False|title|False|description|False|redirection|False|LinkText||]Nina Baucus's confirmation hearing with the Senate Ag committee, held last Thursday, March 5, went smoothly. Several organizations spoke in favor of Baucus's appointment including Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Wool Growers Association, Montana Farm Bureau Federation and Montana Farmer's Union. There was no opposition present at the hearing. Senator's on the committee had several questions for Baucus, primarily dealing with her qualifications to step in and deal with the current issues facing the Montana Board of Livestock. You can listen her answers in the following recording of the hearing below.
The Minutes from last week’s special Board of Livestock meeting:
Key items from the minutes:
Budget Status Review
George Harris review the budget status through January 2015 by division
Centralized Services:
- reduction required by the board $77,058
- reduction to date $40,757
- remaining reduction required-$7,260/per month through fiscal year end
Diagnostic Lab
- reduction required by the board $66,678
- reduction to date $43,217
- remaining reduction required – $4,692 per month through fiscal year end
Brand Enforcement
- reduction required by the board $106,435
- over previous year expenses $69,656
- all remaining reduction needed – $35,218 per month
- not going to meet that goal even with six fulltime or less than half time & one half time positions vacant including 2 terminations
John Scully moved to have a plan submitted at the March board meeting to address the shortfall in Brands. Brett DeBruycker seconded. The motion passed unanimously
Animal Health
- reduction required by the board $7,584
- remaining reduction needed – $1,488 per month February through June
CLICK HERE to read the full minutes
CLICK HERE to read the Northern Ag Network's special report on the meeting from Taylor Brown.
