Tester Presses Biden Administration to Provide Immediate Relief to Montana’s Agricultural Producers Impacted by ...

Senator in letter to Secretary of Agriculture: "I ask that you act swiftly to provide Montana's agricultural producers with the emergency assistance that they need to respond to this disaster and protect our nation's food systems"

U.S. Senator Jon Tester sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging the Administration to provide immediate assistance to farmers and ranchers that have been devastated by the Remington Fire in southeastern Montana and northeastern Wyoming.

In his letter, Tester began by highlighting the tireless work of firefighters in Montana: "[The Remington Fire] is currently the largest active wildfire in Montana, where 75 fires are actively burning across the state. Firefighters are working hard to contain the wildfire, and I understand that the crews involved are making considerable progress as the weather cools. I am grateful for the incredible work of the first responders in the area who have kept folks out of harm's way and are putting their lives on the line to protect our communities and public lands."

Tester continued to specifically emphasize the impact of wildfire on Montana's agricultural workers: "In Montana, wildfires pose a serious threat to farmers and ranchers and can have devastating economic and environmental impacts on their operations. I am hearing from folks on the ground that the Remington Fire has killed countless livestock and destroyed pasture land, fencing, and property structures as it expands through southeastern Montana. Total livestock losses remain unknown, but it is clear that this fire is significantly impacting Montanan agricultural producers and putting them at risk of losing their land and livelihoods."

Tester concluded his letter by urging Secretary Vilsack to act quickly to provide relief to Montana's producers: "Given the severity of the Remington Fire, I ask that you act swiftly to provide Montana's agricultural producers with the emergency assistance that they need to respond to this disaster and protect our nation's food systems."

Tester has worked tirelessly to ensure that Montana's agricultural producers have the resources they need when disaster strikes. After the catastrophic siphon failure on the Milk River Project near Babb, Montana earlier this summer, Tester acted immediately and successfully pushed the Biden Administration to immediately begin rehabilitation work along the Milk River Project. In addition, Tester took to the Senate floor to successfully pass his bipartisan Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) Water Rights Settlement Act which would provide critical funding for repairs on the Milk River Project.

Tester has also been a consistent supporter of Montana's wildland firefighters. As part of his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Tester championed a provision that included $600 million in temporary pay increases for wildland firefighters, by increasing wildland firefighters' base pay up to $20,000 or 50% and allowing for firefighters additional time to rest and recover after responding to large wildfires. In 2023, he introduced the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to make these pay increases permanent and the legislation was recently included in the Senate's 2025 Interior funding bill.

Read Tester's full letter to Secretary Vilsack HERE.