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May/June 2003 



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MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 



3 0864 1002 0232 7 



NEWS ITE T T E R 



Montana Department of Agriculture 



Mav-]une 2003 



"Perseverance is not a lonq race; it is many short races one after another." Walter Elliott 



Montana's Choice Frorr\ot\on6 



T 



The Montana Department of Agriculture is gearing up for the 2003 

 Montana's Choice promotion. The Montana's Choice program is 

 designed to increase sales of Montana food products in grocery 

 stores throughout the state. The promotion works to inform 

 consumers of the availabilit}^ of Montana grocery products through 

 product idenuficarion in the store. 



This promotion is for Montana companies with Montana-made 

 products sold in grocery stores. Involvement in the in-store 

 promotions is encouraged at all participating stores in which a 

 company's product is currendy sold. Governor Judy Martz will kick- 

 off the promotional events at 10 a.m., May 9, 2003, at Van's 

 Thriftway in Helena. We look forward to both the Governor and 

 Lieutenant Governor parncipating in the other scheduled events 

 when possible. Contact Angelyn DeYoung at 406-444-2402 or by 

 email at agr@state.mt.us with questions or for a participation 

 application. 



Montana's Choice In-Store Promotion Itinerarv 



Tri-national Accord Meeting Held 

 in Montreal 



Contmuing a long-standing province/state relationship 

 among Canada, the United States and Mexico, the 

 Province of Quebec hosted the 13''' annual meetmg of 

 the Tn-Nadonal Accord in Montreal April 1-3, 2003. 

 Secretaries, commissioners, directors, ministers of 

 agriculture, plus senior government officials from nine 

 Canadian provinces, 15 U.S. states and nine Mexican 

 states worked together to improve understanding and 

 strengthen collaboration among the agricultural sectors 

 for the three NAFTA countries. Among the 1 5 U.S. 

 states. Director Ralph Peck and Meat and Livestock 

 Marketing Officer Misti Pilster attended the sessions as 

 representatives of the Montana Department of 

 Agriculture. 



Director Peck, who is currendy ser\^ing as a co-chair on 

 the U.S./Canada VC'orking Group, and Pilster 

 participated in meetings related to U.S./Canada trade 

 issues. Working Group members began their meeting 

 ■with reports from federal officials regarding the 

 activities and accomplishments of the U.S./Canada 

 Consultative Committee on Agriculture. The report 

 covered a range of issues including progress toward 

 year-round movement of feeder cattie, pesticide 

 harmonization, modifications of the administration of 

 the mimsterial exempuon procedure for bulk 

 commodity shipments, and more timely mechanisms for 

 resolving technical trade disputes. Delegates also agreed 

 to work together to encourage the U.S. and Canada to 

 move in a parallel manner on science-based approval of 

 new biotechnology products without compromising the 

 marketabilit}" of those products. Country of Origin 

 Labeling issues were also a topic of discussion. The 

 panel discussed strategies that deal with cost, traceabiHt}- 

 and liability issues for meat and seafood products in a 

 mandatory system that goes bevond that for fresh fruits 

 and vegetables. The Canadian and U.S. delegations also 

 agreed on the importance of protecting the secunt}' of 

 the North American food supply and the need to 

 coordinate the role of states and provinces. 



For more information, please contact the Department's 

 Meats and Livestock Marketing Officer, Misti Pilster at 

 406-444-2402 or by email at agr@state.mtus. 



Made In Montana 



Food & Gift Show 



The sixth annual Made In Montana Food and Gift Show, 



held in Great Falls, April 4-5, 2003 was a resounding 



success. Over 35 Montana agnculture companies 



mteracted with nearly 400 w-holesale buyers from Montana, New York, Washington and ^X^oming. Merchandise exhibited at the 



show ranged from condiments, breads and wool items to snacks, beverages and meat products. The public day on Saturday 



brought in a record-breaking 2,500 adults to the show. Thanks to all the vendors for helping to make this year's show a success. 



Questions? Contact Angelyn Deyoung at 406-444-2402 or by email at agr@stat.mtus. 



EVENTS 



Montana-Alberta Agriculture Opportunities Conference: USDA 

 Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services Under Secretary J.B. Penn is 

 scheduled as a speaker for the Montana-.\lberta Agriculture 

 Opportumties Conference in Great Falls at the Heritage Inn, June 

 16 and 17, 2003, as are numerous other agricultural and trade 

 experts. This conference is a very good opportimity for producers 

 and industry- members to discuss trade issues between Montana and 

 Alberta. For more information on participation look for your 

 registration packet in the mail or contact the department at 406- 

 444-2402 or email at agr@state.mtus. 



A USDA Countn- of Origin Labeling (COOL) listening session is 

 set to take place in Billings at the Holiday Inn, June 6, 2003 from 

 1-4 p.m. In October of 2002, the USDA established voluntary 

 guidelines for the COOL provision of the 2002 Farm Bill. 

 Mandatory guidelines for COOL are set to be in place September 

 of 2004. For more information please contact Misti Pilster, the 

 Department's Meat and Livestock Marketing Officer, at 406-444- 

 2402 or by email at agr@state.mtus. 



