The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) praised the U.S. Senate for ending Cold War-era trade restrictions on Russia, which had blocked American beef sales.

The Senate vote granted permanent normal trade relations with Russia, a country the MSGA considers a good beef market.

"Why it's a big deal is it's one more opportunity to provide a market for U.S. beef abroad," says Errol Rice, MSGA executive vice president.

Rice credited U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), for shepherding the trade issue through Congress. Baucus traveled to Russia earlier this year in preparation to normalize trade between the former adversaries.

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