The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Rangeland Resources Program (RRP) promotes and advocates for healthy, sustainable rangelands that support people, wildlife, recreation, clean water, and the natural scenic beauty of Montana. The program fosters understanding by creating collaborative partnerships to sustain healthy rangelands.
Star Lily- one of the 1st prairie flowers to arrive in April- be on the look out for this little gem!
Star Lily- one of the 1st spring flowers to bloom. Star lily is the only species in the entire genus Leucocrinum and is restricted to prairies, sagebrush grasslands, deserts, and mountain meadows of western North America from Oregon to South Dakota south to California, Utah, and New Mexico.
Please join us for the 406 R & L Forum at the Big Horn Resort. This event has a great line up of topics relevant to Montana rangelands and livestock producers. Topics include Feral Swine, brucellosis, Montana Grasslands Carbon Initiative , Endangered Species Act, virtual fencing systems, Cattlefax, poisonous plants, and so much more. Also on the agenda are research updates from Fort Keogh, the universities as well a couple of outstanding guest speakers. This a great opportunity to network and learn. Registration is now open at 406 R & L Forum.
What's the latest on drought and water supply in Montana
The question about drought conditions in Montana seems to be coming up in many conversations in many circles. Did you know there are agencies and groups that monitor drought conditions and forecast potential drought impacts?
The 1st annual 406 Grazing Academy will be in Ennis, MT for 3 days in June. This event is a hands on rangelands grazing shortcourse for producers wanting to learn more about grazing or make changes to their grazing systems. Attendees will bring information from their own operation and leave with a grazing plan. This will also include an optional follow up ranch visit by instructors later in the summer. Register today, space is limited for the 406 Grazing Academy.
Mountain West Grazing Connection
Devon Ragen-Montana State University
Have cows but need grass? Or have extra pasture that you don’t want to mow? The Mountain West Grazing Connection matches landowners with livestock owners to establish mutually beneficial relationships. The MWGC is the place for Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah ranchers, farmers, and landowners to connect. While Montana’s population has steadily increased, pasture and cropland has decreased by over 2.5 million acres in less than 10 years (with other states following similar trends.) Over the last decade, 18 million acres of ranch and farmland in the United States has shifted to other uses. There are tremendous benefits to integrating livestock into the landscape, whether it’s pasture, rangeland, crop land, or a sprawling suburban backyard. By cultivating livestock integration partnerships between producers, farmers don’t have to be ranchers and ranchers don’t have to be farmers. The Mountain West Grazing Connection was funded through the WSARE project "Integrating Livestock into Cropping Systems and the Impacts on Soil Health” (SW17-080). MWGC is led by employees of Montana State University and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). Mountain West Grazing Connection [mountainwestgrazing.com]
Meat that is Good for You and the Planet
“What we do to one another, and the plants and animals on Earth, we do to ourselves…” – Fred Provenza
Eating a variety of phytonutrients is a powerful way to support optimal health, from things like colorful fruits and veggies. Another really cool side of phytonutrients is the impact they have on making animals healthier, too.
In fact, animals that graze on a diverse variety of pasture, with lots of different kinds of wild plants, get an incredible array of phytonutrients. They will even intuitively mix and match their nutritional needs to plants that are available, making sure they get the right balance of vitamins and minerals. Animals that graze on diverse pastures provide much healthier meat that passes more nutritional benefits along to us. Plus they get to live happier, more natural lives! Click on the link below to listen to the podcast from Fred and The Doctor's Farmacy.
Montana Youth Range Camp will be July 26th - July 29th at the C Bar N Ranch near Augusta.
The camp provides an excellent opportunity for youth of varying backgrounds to become more aware of the value and potential of Montana’s rangeland.This well organized, balanced, and educational program brings together range professionals and interested students to learn in the great outdoors.
Camp registration fee is $225 which includes meals, lodging and supplies. Awards are given for outstanding individual and team achievement.
Scholarships may be available to cover the cost of registration, call your local conservation district for more information.
New Report Highlights Declining Sagebrush Ecosystem, Provides Foundation for Next Generation of Conservation and Management
Release Date:
Fort Collins, CO – Considered one of the most imperiled ecosystems in the world and home to mule deer, pronghorn, sage-grouse, pygmy rabbits and more than 350 other species of conservation concern, the sagebrush ecosystem continues to shrink rapidly due to a host of growing threats, according to a new scientific report.
A team of 94 scientists and specialists from 34 federal and state agencies, universities and non-governmental organizations contributed to the comprehensive assessment of the sagebrush ecosystem, which covers 14 western states and two Canadian provinces. The effort was coordinated by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), state wildlife agencies and universities.
The report highlights continuing pressures from unprecedented wildfires fueled by invasive annual grasses, as well as cropland conversion and disturbance associated with development of other resources. These changes impact not just wildlife but also diverse human communities that depend on healthy sagebrush for their wellbeing. Read full article.
AGENCY NEWS & UPDATES
USDA Farm Service Agency CRP SAFE Program in Montana
Shannon Smiley- FSA
The USDA Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program has three State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) projects in Montana. The SAFE program allows producers to establish grasses, forbs and shrubs that benefit high priority State wildlife conservation objectives. The establishment of these wildlife habitats occurs by restoring eligible cropland through the Conservation Reserve Program.
The Pheasant Winter Cover and Prairie Pothole SAFE project objectives are: to restore grass and/or shrub cover for Ring-necked Pheasants and other upland birds near existing permanent winter cover; and to expand habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds in areas of high wetland densities or adjacent semi-permanent wetlands.
The Sagebrush-Grassland Restoration SAFE project objectives are: to expand habitat for Sage Grouse and other species that depend on sagebrush such as Sage Sparrow, Sage Thrasher and other sagebrush-associated wildlife like Pronghorn Antelope; and to restore Big Sagebrush and associated native forbs, grasses and shrubs in order to provide critical nesting habitats which would be largely undisturbed through the Sage Grouse breeding and brood rearing seasons.
The Declining Grassland Birds SAFE project objectives are: to restore and enhance breeding habitat for declining grassland songbirds including Sprague’s Pipit, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Baird’s Sparrow, Lark Bunting and other grassland-associated wildlife; and to restore and enhance native grasslands through grazing management or prescribed fire.
In addition to benefitting wildlife, the financial benefits include 10-15 years of annual rental payments, payments of up to 50% cost share for habitat establishment, and possible additional cost share sources through our partners. Wetland habitats can receive additional incentive payments.
These projects are possible through the partnership of landowners and many government and non-governmental organizations: USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service; Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks; Pheasants Forever; Ducks Unlimited; Northern Great Plains Joint Venture; Prairie Pothole Joint Venture; USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife; World Wildlife Fund; and the Nature Conservancy.
Please see the Fact Sheets for more specifics on location of the project areas, habitat practices available for each project area, and the management requirements.
USDA Requests Information on USDA’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Strategy
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today published a Federal Register Notice requesting public input on a climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy. The Notice represents an important step toward implementing President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. The Order, signed January 27, states that, “America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners have an important role to play in combating the climate crisis and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by sequestering carbon in soils, grasses, trees, and other vegetation and sourcing sustainable bioproducts and fuels.” The Order directs Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to solicit input from stakeholders as USDA develops a climate-smart agriculture and forestry approach. Full story.
CONSERVATION & PARTNERSHIPS
MSGA Board members, staff meet with Governor Gianforte in Helena
While in town for their recent Board meeting, members of the MSGA Board of Directors and staff were invited to meet with Governor Greg Gianforte in Helena. MSGA had the chance to discuss key legislative measures MSGA is focused on during the Legislative Session, as well as other issues critical to Montana's ranching families. Thank you to Gov. Gianforte for having Montana's ranching community at the table! Check out MSGA's weekly podcast the Rancher's Voice .
Society for Range Management- virtual Annual Meeting draws large audience.
Mary Jo Foley-Birrenkott
The Society for Range Managment just concluded the 74th International Annual Meeting (virtually) February 15-18th. The meeting saw an outstanding turnout with over 1,600 rangeland managers and scientists who embraced this year's virtual format.
The meeting was kicked off by a welcome by SRM President Dr. Charles Hart, the Annual Meeting Planning Committee and by Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Kevin Norton, who issued this special welcome to attendees of this year's virtual annual meeting. Headlined by three Plenary presentations, which included top of the line speakers from around the world, the Plenary sessions included the hot topics of:
Inside And Outside The Ranch Gate: How Do We Conserve Ranches And Support Stewardship?
Adapt (Or Succumb) To Climate Change On Rangelands
Wicked Problems In Wildland Fire
The Virtual Conference was engaging and interactive. The virtual platform allowed direct contact and messaging among meeting attendees, Q&A with presenters, and opportunities to meet colleagues working on similar topics and challenges. Presentations and conversations examined topics including rangeland restoration, monitoring, and education, wildlife management, livestock management and new technologies for rangeland conservation. As in past SRM Annual Meetings, there were hundreds of oral and poster presentations, symposia and workshops. Keeping with tradition, there were several socials throughout the event along with a vendor exhibit hall and job fair was also facilitated. With the virtual platform, presentations were recorded and meeting registrants will be able to access this year's information for years to come.
Select items were also live streamed during the Annual Meeting. You can find these, and watch for free, on the SRM Facebook Page and SRM YouTube Channel. This include:
Plenary Sessions
Global Rangeland Tours
SRM Business Meeting
SRM Honor Awards
SRM Student Awards
In continued dedication to building partnership, the 3rd Annual SRM Partners Meeting was held at the close of the meeting. This invited meeting is convened as an opportunity to hear from SRM staff about current initiatives as well as from key partners. An opening video outlined SRM’s commitment to collaboration, communication, and outreach for “amplifying” efforts. Featured were Parent society and Section functions, certification programs, and work with agencies including online trainings, workshops and outreach tools. The key message was the role of partnerships in facilitating stewardship of rangelands.
Montana Invasive Species Council
MISC recently completed a great all taxa invasive video.
WEBINARS & PODCASTS
Is NEPA a four letter word?
Here is a great webinar on NEPA for ranchers hosted by Dan Scott Ranch Management Program at MSU. So take a break from those spring chores and take a listen.
