allow dockage, water, and foreign material to be mixed 

 with grain, and LC 11 would prohibit this practice if 

 the grain is marketed under the proposed marketing 

 program. 



After presentation of the bill, the Subcommittee 

 heard testimony from Jim Jenks, Montana Wheat Research 

 and Marketing Committee; Randy Johnson, Montana Grain 

 Growers Association; and Gene Chapel, Montana Farm 

 Bureau. All three spokesmen testified in general 

 opposition to LC 11. 



Jim Jenks questioned whether the benefits of the 

 proposed program would be an improvement compared to the 

 benefits of marketing conducted by U.S. Wheat Associates 

 and the Montana Wheat Research and Marketing Committee. 

 He further questioned the cost of identity-preserving 

 Montana grain. 



Gene Chapel told the Subcommittee that the bill 

 concerned him because it would limit the purchase of 

 Montana grain for blending purposes. He said Montana 

 sells a blending grain — grain that has value because it 

 can be mixed with other grain around the world to 

 improve gluten strength and protein content. He said 

 LC 11 might isolate Montana grain from the market. 



Randy Johnson indicated hesitation to speak in 

 opposition to LC 11. However, he said, the current U.S. 

 marketing system is the best in the world and there is 

 no problem in monitoring the quality of grain shipped 

 within that system. 



The Subcommittee took all testimony under 

 advisement. 



89 



