Committee backs giving goat producers access to county predator‑control petitions

The Senate Agriculture, Livestock & Irrigation Committee voted to concur on House Bill 767, which would add goats to the county petition process that funds local predator control and authorize a per‑capita fee on goats.

Representative Julie Darling, sponsor of the bill, said the change extends an existing producer‑funded county petition model (previously applied to sheep and cattle) to goat producers who increasingly face predation losses. Callie Michaels of the Montana Wool Growers Association and Nicole Rolfe of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation testified in support, describing long‑term declines in sheep numbers, rising goat populations in some counties, and the need for a producer‑funded mechanism for predator control.

Proponents cited statistics about livestock losses: testimony referenced that roughly 8.5% of sheep are killed annually by predators and that coyotes account for the majority of those losses; one witness estimated more than 10,000 sheep and lambs killed annually in Montana. Ian Foley (Department of Agriculture) and Mike Honeycutt (Department of Livestock) described how county petitions work, the role of USDA Wildlife Services in cooperative agreements, and the distinction between livestock‑loss board reimbursements for federally protected species versus county petition funding for coyote control.

Committee discussion focused on funding mechanics and whether counties could access wildlife services for coyote removal; witnesses said access exists but is funded largely through cooperative agreements and producer contributions. After consideration and a technical amendment addressing statutory consistency, the committee concurred on HB767 as once amended and named a carrier for the floor.

What’s next: HB767 advanced from committee as once amended and awaits floor action with a sponsor identified to carry the bill.