production costs, and greater farm debt. He said that 

 the state should encourage research that reduces the 

 dependence on limited resources (fuel, fertilizers, 

 etc.) and that develops production methods utilizing 

 crop rotation, recycling of animal wastes, and other 

 affordable "common sense" farming techniques. 



Hearing on Grain Quality Problems 



The hearing on grain problems included testimony 

 from Roy Bjornson, Administrator, Plant Industry 

 Division, Montana Department of Agriculture; Jim 

 Christiansen, Executive Vice President, Montana Wheat 

 Research and Marketing Committee; and Representative 

 Bill Glaser, House District 98 (Billings). 



Roy Bjornson told the Subcommittee that the Montana 

 Department of Agriculture supports the need for U.S. 

 grain standards and a national system for the 

 inspection, grading, and marketing of grain. He further 

 said that the Department strives to promote and protect 

 the quality of Montana grain through the uniform 

 application of U.S. standards. 



In his testimony, Jim Christiansen explained that 

 Montana does, in fact, have a problem with "dirty 

 wheat", but that this problem is a national issue. Mr. 

 Christiansen said that the problem arises from 

 inadequate federal grain standards, which need to be 

 improved to more accurately reflect the demands of 

 foreign buyers. Mr. Christiansen concluded that in 

 addressing the problem, Montana could not act alone, 

 such as by imposing a state grain standard. He said if 

 the state imposed its own standard for the grading of 

 grain, the state would: (1) be overruled by the Federal 



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