Gov. Gianforte to USDA: Anticipated livestock export delays threaten the viability of family ranches

On Monday, Governor Greg Gianforte urged Secretary Tom Vilsack of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to resolve anticipated delays in the approval of export certificates for Montana livestock.

“In the face of severe drought affecting the northwestern United States, our producers are experiencing a shortage of forage leading to significant early marketing of cows and calves,” Gov. Gianforte wrote in a letter to Sec. Vilsack. “Unfortunately, sellers are now anticipating a three-to-four-day processing time for export certificates due to a retirement in the USDA-VS Endorsement Office in Ida...