Mike Honeycutt

The meeting included updates on the Executive Office's activities, particularly concerning the Yellowstone National Park (YNP) Bison and the implementation of the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP), noting management strategies for out-migration due to ongoing litigation and a federal shutdown. Legislative updates covered upcoming interim committee meetings and budget planning for the next biennium. Impacts of the Federal Government shutdown on USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services and Packers & Stockyards were discussed, along with mitigation strategies employed by the Department of Livestock (DOL). The Board adopted an Animal Health Administrator Order (No. 25-01) regarding vendor access to confidential information and received training on Contested Case Hearings. Financial reports detailed the September State Special Revenue and budget projections, showing overall positive revenue trends despite planned overspending in some areas. The DOL is projecting expenses under authority for the year. The USDA Wildlife Services provided predator control activity statistics, including removals of coyotes, wolves, and bears, and their involvement in the Phillips County feral swine response. The Board also discussed a potential issue regarding Grizzly Bear injury compensation for cattle producers. Key divisional updates included the review of the failed FDA check rating in the dairy program, with discussions focusing on enforcement and education; standing approval was granted for out-of-state travel for Veterinarians to assist adjacent states; and updates on the Phillips County Feral Swine Response and ongoing Brucellosis testing. The Brands Enforcement Division reported on online permit updates, the soft implementation of Lifetime Horse Inspections in ServiceNow, audit compliance tracking, and initial work on Red Tape Review legislation. Non-agenda items included a discussion on raising the brand inspection fee to retain Local Brand Inspectors and acknowledgments of recent passing of cattle industry leaders.

The meeting includes discussion of YNP Bison/EIS/IBMP Operations, Legislative Interim Update, Federal Shutdown Impacts, and upcoming stakeholder conferences. It covers staff openings, recruitment updates, year-end employee performance evaluations, and a legal counsel update regarding prospective litigation. The agenda also includes updates on USDA Wildlife Services funding, budget projections, predator control activities, and a Livestock Loss Board Report. Further discussion includes meat, milk, and egg inspection updates, veterinary diagnostic laboratory updates, animal health bureau updates, brands enforcement division updates, and comments from the public on non-agenda items.

The meeting included updates on the Governor's OGSM strategic management and executive officer strategic goals, legal counsel updates, and executive officer updates including session planning and legislative updates, a red tape initiative, the Ag Labor Summit in January, MSGA Stockgrowers College, a new travel and expense system, recission of the BLM Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, a DOA/DOL HR meeting, USDA Reorganization, and a YNP Bison/EIS/IBMP Operations Update. The board also discussed the per capita fee 2026 rate setting, the August 31, 2025 State Special Revenue Report, September 2025 through June 2026 Budget Projections Report, the August 31, 2025 Budget Comparison Report, LLB Predation Claims Report and General Updates, activities of USDA Wildlife Services, Brands Enforcement Division Update, staffing, audit compliance, out-of-state travel request for the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) Annual Meeting, an RFID Distribution Plan, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), and Brucellosis.

The meeting included discussions on various topics, including updates from Yellowstone National Park on bison population estimates and dispersal. The board also discussed the prioritization of bison management tools, such as the conservation transfer program, tribal treaty hunting, and the food transfer program. They also touched on the potential opening of a processing facility by CSKT and its implications for bison management.

The meeting included discussion of claims for June and July, with the first black bear claim noted. A budget status update was provided, detailing personnel expenses, operational spending, and claim money. The board discussed wildlife service funding, considering a motion to award wildlife services $95,103. An update from Wildlife Services included IR counts for black bears, grizzly bears, mountain lions, and wolves. There was also discussion of options for dealing with eagles affecting livestock, and a report on range riders.