BILLINGS -- Sen. Jon Tester touted the 2007 Farm Bill to sugar beet farmers and listened to the concerns of small-business owners at two gatherings Saturday in Billings.

The Billings meetings were part of Tester's listening tour in several Montana cities. Starting Thursday, he made stops in Butte, Bozeman, Big Sky, Livingston and Molt.

After his two Billings stops Saturday, he planned to head back to his farm in Big Sandy.

At noon, Tester spoke to about 75 people gathered for the annual meeting of the Mountain States Beet Growers Association of Montana.

Tester told his audience that he is most proud to be a third-generation Montanan who is still involved in agriculture. He related a story about a reporter in Washington D.C. who asked him who does the work on his farm now that he is in office.

Tester told the reporter that he and his wife, Sharla, run the 1,800-acre farm, with help from their son and son-in-law, and Tester's brother. Farming isn't something Tester said he intends to give up, even though much of his time is spent in the nation's capitol.

"It's part of what we want to do," he said. "It's part of what keeps my life real. I'm proud to farm the land my grandparents homesteaded."

As one of two U.S. senators actively involved in farming, Tester said he shared the interest of beet growers in the 2007 Farm Bill. The Senate passed the 1,400-page bill in December, Tester said, and it now is in a conference committee so the Senate and House can work out their differences on the two versions of the bill.

And while it doesn't contain everything Tester wanted, he pointed out portions that will benefit Montana farmers. For instance, the Senate version of the farm bill contains a permanent disaster assistance program, Tester said.

He added that the bill will hopefully put a stop to the closure of Farm Service Agency offices in rural areas so necessary to the work of farmers.

In the Senate, where Democrats and Republics frequently square off against each other, Tester said the farm bill was a good example of the two sides working together on legislation. He said President Bush has threatened to veto the 2007 Farm Bill.

But Tester added that in the same way the president vetoed the 2007 Water Resources Development Act and Congress overrode that veto, he believes the Senate and House will prevail with the farm bill.

Later in the afternoon, Tester met with about 30 people at the Billings Chamber of Commerce office. Tester told the group of small business owners that he wants to collect concerns and information about small business.

He expected to see patterns emerge, in the same way they did when he focused on veterans' issues, Tester said. In that way, he could insert language into future bills that would address those issues.

Peter Gesuale, director of sales for the soon-to-open Hilton Garden Inn, told Tester that a big concern is Montana's low unemployment rate. Although the new motel, which is slated to open Jan. 24, is now almost fully staffed, it took a great effort to find enough employees.

"It's a tough, tough labor market," Gesuale said. "It's a burden I know every small business owner is facing."

A second issue Gesuale raised, and others echoed centered on health insurance. While small businesses may be able to offer employees health insurance, insurance for other family members can take a big chunk out of the employee's paycheck, Gesuale said.

Tester acknowledged the issue has been raised at other listening sessions he has attended

"The health insurance issue has come up a lot in the last few days," he said.

Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy added that the job shortage also encompasses Eastern Montana and reservations, with the need for more medical and mental-health professionals.

"We need some incentives to recruit people to Montana to offer their services," Kennedy said. The highest priority is psychiatrists and mental health workers, physicians and nurses, he said.

Other issues raised at the meeting included the Mining Law reform legislation, employment for American Indians, student nutrition, the subprime mortgage crisis and its possible effect on Montana and the student loans that young professionals are saddled with.