Montana Ag Priorities and Over $4.8 Million in Zinke Requested Rural Infrastructure Funding Passes the House in the FY27 Ag Appropriations Bill

Washington, D.C. - Today, the FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Act passed the House of Representatives. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke helped craft the bill, and secured $4.8 million in rural infrastructure funding as well as multiple policy priorities for Montana ag producers. The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote.

"I've made it a priority to stand up for rural America and the people who keep this country fed," said Zinke. "The funding in this bill will upgrade basic infrastructure in places like Columbia Falls, Libby, and Ronan and strengthen emergency communications. And I've made sure it cracks down on foreign ownership of American farmland and strengthens food safety protections because food security is national security. Montana Farmers and Ranchers produce a gold star product, and my job is to make sure they have the infrastructure, funding, and administration policy to back them."

Congressman Zinke's Community Project Funding requests included in the bill:

• Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, $187,500 - Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Emergency Comms
• Flathead County, $2,325,000 - City of Columbia Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Phase 1
• Lake County, $69,000 - Charlo Volunteer Fire Department
• Lake County, $259,612 - Lake County Office of Emergency Management Communication Tower Replacements
• Lincoln County, $1,000,000 - City of Libby Water Filtration Phase 1
• Lake County, $1,000,000 - Ronan Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade Phase 1

Ag priorities included in the bill:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Provides $1.16 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to protect American agriculture from foreign pests and diseases, including High-Path Avian Influenza, New World Screwworm, and other foreign plant and animal threats. This funding supports rapid response capabilities and strengthens protections for American producers and food supply chains.

Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land
Strengthens oversight of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land by improving tracking systems and adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for reviews of agricultural land transactions involving foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. This increases transparency and helps safeguard American farmland and food security.

Pulse Crop Health Initiative
Provides an additional $500,000 for research into the health and nutritional benefits of pulse crops, including dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, and dry beans. Montana is one of the nation's leading pulse crop producers, and this research supports market development and producer competitiveness.

Precision Livestock Management Research
Maintains funding for precision livestock management research focused on maximizing rangeland resources for beef cattle and sheep production while maintaining vegetation diversity, healthy soils, and resilient plant communities. This research is particularly important for western rangelands during fall and winter grazing seasons.

Semi-Arid West Soil Health Research
Maintains funding for soil health research across integrated cropland and rangeland systems in the semi-arid West. Research will integrate emerging sensor technologies and modeling tools to help producers better assess and manage soils while supporting public lands and livestock production.

Barley Pest Initiative
Increases funding for the Barley Pest Initiative to support research addressing major threats to sustainable and profitable barley production and utilization. Montana is one of the top barley-producing states in the country, and this research helps protect yields and strengthen agricultural markets.

Food Safety and Inspection Service
Increases resources for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to support frontline meat and poultry inspectors and strengthen state inspection programs. This helps maintain food safety standards while supporting livestock producers and meat processing operations.

Farm Service Agency Staffing
Increases overall funding for Farm Service Agency staffing, including county office staff, helping improve service delivery and support for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

Read the full text of the bill here.

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