Montana Farm Bureau Leaders Advocate for Agriculture Interests in D.C.

Members meet with lawmakers and agency officials to discuss policy priorities like the Farm Bill, labor shortages, and cryptocurrency regulation.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Montana Farm Bureau members traveled to Washington, D.C. in February to participate in the American Farm Bureau Issues Advisory Committee meetings. The group, led by MFBF senior director of Governmental Affairs Nicole Rolf, met with lawmakers, agency officials, and representatives from tech companies like Google and Meta to discuss pressing agricultural concerns and policy development.

Why it matters

The annual trip to D.C. allows Montana Farm Bureau to directly advocate for the interests of the state's agricultural producers on key issues like the upcoming Farm Bill, labor shortages, and the regulation of emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and drones. The discussions with policymakers and industry representatives help shape the organization's policy positions and priorities.

The details

During the meetings, the Montana Farm Bureau members participated in advisory sessions, conducted congressional visits, and met with agency officials. Key topics included the strong cattle market, concerns over falling commodity prices and fertilizer costs, the potential use of artificial intelligence and robotics to address labor shortages, and the role of the Senate Agriculture Committee in regulating cryptocurrency as a commodity. The group also voiced opposition to a proposed railroad merger that could negatively impact shipping rates for Montana producers.

  • The Montana Farm Bureau members traveled to Washington, D.C. from February 10-12, 2026.
  • The American Farm Bureau Issues Advisory Committee meetings took place during this time period.

The players

Nicole Rolf

Senior director of Governmental Affairs for the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.

Jess Bandel

Wheat farmer from Floweree, Montana who serves on the Market Structures Committee of the American Farm Bureau.

Greg Gabel

Sugar beet farmer from Huntley, Montana who serves on the Technology Committee of the American Farm Bureau.

Rich Franko

Rancher from Prairie County, Montana who serves on the Federal Lands Committee of the American Farm Bureau.

Steve Daines

U.S. Senator for Montana.

Tim Sheehy

U.S. Senator for Montana.

Troy Downing

U.S. Representative for Montana's at-large congressional district.

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What they’re saying

“The outlook for cattle remains strong with no immediate downside because consumer demand for beef stays high despite elevated prices, and the cattle supply continues to contract.”

— Jess Bandel, Wheat farmer (northernplainsindependent.com)

“While many in our group are technology-forward and own drones, the American drone industry currently lags behind its international competitors.”

— Greg Gabel, Sugar beet farmer (northernplainsindependent.com)

“Contrary to the assumption that these [data] centers only require remote monitoring, representatives claimed they will provide local infrastructure maintenance jobs for electricians and technicians.”

— Greg Gabel, Sugar beet farmer (northernplainsindependent.com)

What’s next

The Montana Farm Bureau members plan to continue advocating for their policy priorities with Montana's congressional delegation and federal agencies in the coming months.

The takeaway

The annual trip to Washington, D.C. allows the Montana Farm Bureau to directly engage with policymakers and industry representatives to ensure the interests of the state's agricultural producers are represented on critical issues like the Farm Bill, labor shortages, and emerging technologies.