The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Rangeland Resources Program (RRP) promotes and advocates for healthy, sustainable rangelands that supports people, wildlife, recreation, clean water, and the natural scenic beauty of Montana.

News

Year-round grazing? Yes, it's possible! Winter feeding is generally the biggest cost for cattle producers, so the goal is to reduce the number of days you put feed in front of your cattle. With well-planned forage management, cattle can harvest their own feed year-round, especially in mild climates. Even in Northern climates with cold weather and snow, this can work in certain situations, with a backup plan when winter storms make grazing impossible.  There are basically four sources of forage: native pasture; seeded perennials (alfalfa, grass, etc.), annuals for grazing (oats, barley, spring and winter cereals, corn, cocktail cover crop mixtures, etc.), and annual crop residues, says Lorne Klein, range management Extension specialist, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

General Mills, Walmart Join Forces to Advance Regenerative Agriculture General Mills, Walmart and Sam’s Club recently announced a collaboration to help accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture on 600,000 acres in the U.S. by 2030. This represents the approximate number of acres General Mills engages to source key ingredients for its products sold through Walmart and Sam’s Club. Initial projects will be supported through grants administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and seek to advance regenerative agriculture outcomes across a variety of crops, including wheat, in the Northern and Southern Great Plains.

Find an Expert to Help You Tackle Farm Succession Plans Passing down a family farm involves careful planning to ensure a smooth transition and continued success of the operation, but are you up for that job? Let’s face it, some people are planners who just can’t wait to get out the forms and start typing. Then there are others who when the “farm succession planning” topic comes up, they immediately have a chore to do outside. In either instance, a third-party mediator could help navigate complex decisions between different personalities to finally create a family farm succession plan that works for everyone.

Montana Stockgrowers Works to Connect Consumers and Ranchers Through Montana Food Service Industry  The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) Cattle Drive program has set out to do something no other cattle organization in the state has done—match Montana born, raised, and fed cattle with local restaurants and retailers. The “Montanans Feeding Montana Initiative” seeks to connect the Montana food service industry to the high-quality beef raised by Montana ranchers. The Cattle Drive program is in its sixth year, with this year launching the value-added focus that intentionally pairs partners together to keep the entire beef supply chain in Montana. One of the program’s goals is to economically increase profitability for everyone involved.

Study Examines Livestock Trailer Cleanliness Using Bioluminescence Livestock trailer cleanliness is normally determined by visual evaluation, assessing if it is free of organic material and suitable to return to a farm. However, studies have shown visual inspection may be insufficient to ensure cleanliness and reduce disease transmission risk because viruses and bacteria are microscopic. In a Swine Health Information Center Wean to Harvest Biosecurity Program study conducted by Dustin Boler, Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions, and Bailey Harsh, University of Illinois, the suitability of bioluminescence for evaluating trailer cleanliness was assessed and confirmed as a prospective testing method.

Wildfire Smoke Exposure on Finished Cattle Feed, and Water Intake The effects of wildfire smoke exposure in livestock haven’t been explored in depth, and current studies overlook causality of the relationships that are established parametrically. Given these occurrences are expected to increase as global drying and heating increases, guidelines for tracking effects on livestock are essential.  Though wildfire smoke exposure is expected to affect respiration (i.e., lung effects), the effects are more than just respiratory. Studies have investigated effects on the liver (Wohlsein et al., 2016), myocardial thickening in the heart (Sharpe et al., 2020), among others.

Montana Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Applicants Nominations and applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Montana Leopold Conservation Award®. The $10,000 award honors ranchers, farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 27 states. In Montana, the award is presented with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Montana Rangeland Resources Committee.   Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for what he called “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage. Award nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders. Last year’s recipient was Kurt and PJ Myllymaki of Stanford. The application deadline is March 1, 2024.

Cow and Heifer Slaughter Indicates Continued Herd Liquidation The January 1, 2023 Cattle inventory report included a beef cow herd of 28.9 million head, down 3.6 percent year over year and the smallest beef cow total since 1962.  More importantly going forward, the report also included an inventory of beef replacement heifers of 5.16 million head, down 5.8 percent from the previous year. The replacement heifer total included the inventory of heifers expected to calve of 3.17 million, down 5.1 percent year over year. Both the replacement heifer total and heifers expected to calve were the lowest since 2011.

America’s Billion-Dollar Tree Problem Is Spreading

Grasslands are being overrun by drought-resistant invaders that wreck animal habitats, suck up water supplies, and can cost landowners a fortune.

Fast-growing, drought-tolerant trees are slowly spreading across grasslands on every continent except Antarctica. Given how desperate we are to reduce carbon in the atmosphere, millions of new saplings sprouting each year might seem like a good thing. But in reality, their spread across vulnerable grasslands and shrublands is upending ecosystems and livelihoods. As these areas transform into woodland, wildlife disappears, water supplies dwindle, and soil health suffers. The risk of catastrophic wildfire also skyrockets.

Conservation & Partnerships

RSA, MT NRCS Unveil Major Partnership

Nonprofit Receives $875,000 Award, Adds Staff Position for Geospatial Coordinator

Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is proud to announce a significant partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of Montana, a momentous step forward in private lands conservation and prioritized ranch resiliency efforts. This partnership, solidified by an $875,000 award, will enable RSA to collaborate with NRCS and relevant partners in accelerating conservation delivery across RSA’s geography.

Ranch Stewards Book Club

Each year we try to pick out a book that’ll add value while fostering a hearty discussion during our online book club sessions. This year’s selection, Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman, achieves both of those goals.

Unfolding as a journey down the Mississippi River, Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman tells the stories of five representatives of this stewardship movement: a Montana rancher, a Kansas farmer, a Mississippi riverman, a Louisiana shrimper and a Gulf fisherman. In exploring their work, family histories and the essential geographies they protect, Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman challenges pervasive and powerful myths about American and environmental values.

Over the course of the Ranch Stewards Book Club, we’ll discuss the book in five sessions:

Monday, January 8 – Chapter 1, Rancher

Monday, January 22 – Chapter 2, Farmer

Monday, February 5 – Chapter 3, Riverman

Monday, February 19 – Chapter 4, Shrimper

Monday, March 4 – Chapter 5, Fisherman

These discussions will take place on Zoom from 7-8:30 MST and a direct link will be sent in your registration confirmation email. We’ll also send you reminders as each Book Club date approaches.

If you are one of the first 20 registrants, you can receive a complimentary copy of the book.

Landscape Explorer: A Powerful Conservation Tool Have you ever heard of shifting baseline syndrome? This concept—that humans tend to gradually shift the way they perceive what is “normal” for the environment around them—is important to keep in mind in landscape conservation across the Intermountain West. Looking to the past is one good way land managers can plan for future desired conditions. A new tool from Working Lands for Wildlife can help them do just that. The Landscape Explorer Interactive Map Application takes historical imagery from the mid-twentieth century and juxtaposes it next to satellite imagery of current landscape conditions. It’s easy to use—just position the map on the area you’re working in and see how it’s changed over the last several decades by moving the slider.

Agency Updates

The MT Invasive Species Council is now accepting applications for 2024 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Grants. Application period is from October 30 to January 7.  AIS grants are intended to increase local capacity and involvement to address AIS issues. Projects that focused on these AIS management components are eligible: prevention, early detection, education and outreach, research, and treatment.   This state funded program awards approximately $250,000 each year.  Applicants may request up to $50,000 per project. Grant applicants can be local, state, tribal, or other government entities within the state; and Montana-based non-governmental entities.  Applications are due Sunday, January 7, 2024, before midnight.    AIS Grant Program Guidelines are here: Aquatic Invasive Species Grant Program | Montana Invasive Species (mt.gov)  The grant application form is here: grants.dnrc.mt.gov.  Scroll down to AIS 2024 Grant Application.  Contact Liz Lodman at 406-444-0547 with any questions on the grant and application process. Questions can be emailed to dnraisgrants@mt.gov

Montana Projects Receive $42 Million as Part of Unprecedented $1 Billion Investment in USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an unprecedented $1 billion investment in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to advance partner-driven solutions to conservation on agricultural land through 81 projects. Three Montana projects will receive more than $42.3 million in funding. RCPP leverages a voluntary approach to conservation that expands the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. Historic funding is made possible by both the Inflation Reduction Act and the Farm Bill. 
 
“The unprecedented demand for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, shows how much interest there is from producers and partners for voluntary conservation on the ground,” said Tom Watson, State Conservationist in Montana for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “USDA is making historic investments and streamlining the program to make it work better for producers and partners. These factors in combination with the amazing partners that have brought their creativity and resources to the selected projects help deliver conservation to farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners at a larger scale than ever before.” 

FACT SHEET: USDA Streamlines Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Invests Unprecedented $1 Billion in 81 Conservation Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making historic investments to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and streamlining the program to make it work better for producers and partners. This combination will deliver conservation at a scale never before achieved through RCPP. This year, more than $1 billion is being invested to advance partner-driven solutions to conservation on agricultural land through 81 projects. 

RCPP leverages a voluntary approach to conservation that expands the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. Historic funding is made possible by both the Inflation Reduction Act, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, and the Farm Bill. 

Montana landowner group supports overturning Wyoming judge's corner crossing ruling

Billings Gazette, November 29, 2023, Brett French

A Montana landowner group has filed a brief asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to reverse a Wyoming district court judge’s 2023 ruling in favor of four hunters who corner crossed, according to reporting by WyoFile.

December Weed Post Tall tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum) Tall tumblemustard is an exotic species in the mustard family. This species grows throughout Montana, inhabiting disturbed soil of grasslands, agricultural fields, streambanks, and roadsides from low to mid elevations. Tall tumblemustard has been introduced widely in North America and is thought to have originated in Eurasia.

FWP seeking public comment on several items

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several environmental assessments (EAs) and changes to Administrative Rules of Montana. 

Montana Agricultural Business Association Foundation Announces Second
Annual Montana Ag Technology Innovation & Investment Summit

In coordination with the Montana Department of Agriculture and Montana State University, the Montana Agricultural Business Association Foundation is proud to announce the second annual Montana Ag Technology Innovation & Investment Summit set for January 23rd, 2024, in Great Falls, MT.

The Montana Ag Technology Innovation & Investment Summit is a strategic opportunity to bring cutting-edge agriculture technology and innovation to the forefront of North America’s agriculture economy. Building on last year’s inaugural event, the 2024 summit explores the nexus between research, innovation, and investment opportunities through a compelling sector that has the power to alter the course of the global food and agriculture system.

USDA Designates Two Montana Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Nine Contiguous Counties in Montana Also Eligible for Assistance

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. 

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for 8 or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional. 

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to Montana Small Businesses

Small nonfarm businesses in 15 Montana counties and neighboring counties in North Dakota are now eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Director Jeffrey Lusk of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center‑West. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in the following primary counties that began Aug. 22. 

Primary Montana counties:  Garfield, McCone, Phillips, Roosevelt and Valley;

Neighboring Montana counties:  Blaine, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fergus, Petroleum, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud and Sheridan;

Neighboring North Dakota counties:  McKenzie and Williams. 

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Lusk said. 

Biden-Harris Administration Partners with Ag Producers to Strengthen Agricultural Supply Chains and Lower Food Costs

 As part of the inaugural meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, President Biden and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is making investments that will strengthen American food and agriculture supply chains, expand markets for agricultural producers, and lower food costs.

Disaster Assistance for 2023 Livestock Forage Losses in 14 Montana counties

14 MT Counties Triggered; U.S. Drought Monitor Updated Weekly Livestock producers in 14 Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass, and forage sorghum. LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or leased land, or fire on federally managed land.

County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of qualifying drought, or if a federal agency prohibits producers from grazing normal permitted livestock on federally managed lands due to qualifying fire. The following 14 Montana counties have triggered the 2023 LFP drought criteria: Blaine, Chouteau, Flathead, Glacier, Hill, Lake, Liberty, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Pondera, Sanders, Teton, and Toole. Producers must complete a CCC-853 and provide required supporting documentation no later than January 30, 2024, for 2023 losses. Producers in these counties are also eligible to apply for benefits under the 2023 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses relating to feed transportation, livestock transportation and water transportation costs. The deadline to file a Notice of Loss for livestock losses under ELAP is 30 days after the date that the loss is apparent.

Applications for payment must be completed no later than January 30, 2024, for 2023 losses. For additional information about LFP, including eligible livestock and fire criteria, contact the local USDA Service Center and/or visit www.farmers.gov and/or fsa.usda.gov/mt.

Podcast Corner

Ep 144: What’s Going On In Washington DC?

It’s important that we stay in touch with the activities and decisions being made in Washington DC that effects our industry… such as the latest announcement on fresh beef imports from Paraguay.  Lia Biondo and Jess Peterson with the US Cattlemen’s Association join us to provide insight on several topics like the new House Speaker Johnson.  How will he be for the cattle industry as well as the ability to collaborate within both his party and the House as a whole?  And, what’s the future of the next farm bill with so much going on next year?  There’s a lot to talk about!

AoR 118: Safe-to-Fail Experimentation & Regenerative Grazing with Graeme Hand & Kevin Muno Can grazing be used to help ecosystem function or is 'do no harm' the best we can do? What is meant by the new buzzword "regenerative"? Graeme Hand has been teaching and practicing grazing decision-making for a long time and has championed the idea of experimentation at spatial scales at which failing is not fatal to the environment or a livelihood. Kevin Muno is a rancher in southern California trying these ideas out at the ranch scale. We discuss measuring success using Landscape Function Analysis, a system developed in Australia by CSIRO and similar to the NRCS rangeland health matrix.

Impact of effective probiotics on gut-brain-microbiome axis Discover the groundbreaking science behind the gut-brain-microbiome axis and its pivotal role in animal health and well-being.

Safeguarding Grasslands & Cattle Industry Orange Flags Join Haylie Shipp as Ranchers Stewardship Alliance board member Rick Caquelin and North Dakota rancher Jerry Doan start a conversation about conserving intact grassland and end up in a discussion of the big picture of the U.S. cattle industry.

Plant of the Month

Rubber Rabbitbrush Scientfic Name: Ericameria nauseosa (Pall.ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird) Lifecycle: Native Perennial Leaves: Whitish-green flexible stems, felt-like matted hairs, and narrow, thread-like grayish-green alternate leaves. Flower: Made up of 5 small, yellow, tubular flowers, and are arranged in dense, rounded or flat-topped clusters at the ends of branches. Bloom August-October and provide a pollen source for insects late in the summer.  Stems: 2 to 5 feet tall but can grow to 7 feet.  Distribution: Northern Great Plains, Northern Rocky Mountains and Intermountain regions of the western United States. Uses Grazing/rangeland/wildlife: Growing points of this grass are low and near the grounds surface, thus close grazing by livestock can be allowed. To obtain the best forage yields, grazing should be deferred once every two to three years. Blue grama cures well on the stem making it a good grass for deferred grazing during its dormant period. Photo: Sally and Andy Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, www.wildflower.org

Research Center

Montana State University:

Animal & Range Science 

MSU Extension:

Updated MontGuides

University of Montana:

Rangeland Analysis Platform

Reversing Tree Encroachment Increases Usable Space for Sage-Grouse during the Breeding Season

USDA-Agricultural Research Service

Scientific Discoveries 2022

Rangeland Resources & Systems Research, Fort Collins, CO:

• Physiological trait networks have potential to predict maize growth in contrasting environments
• Disease and weather induce rapid shifts in a rangeland ecosystem mediated by a keystone species (Cynomys ludovicianus)

Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT:

• Mineral nitrogen and microbial responses to soil heating in burned grassland
• Fuel properties of effective greenstrips in simulated cheatgrass fires

Pest Management Research, Sidney, MT:

• How soil carbon fractions relate to soil properties and crop yields in dryland cropping systems?
• Herbivory changes biomass allocation but does not induce resistance among ramets of an invasive plant

USDA- Wildlife Services:

• Genetic Biocontrol for Invasive Species 

US Forest Service Research & Development: 

Research topic: Fire

Research topic: Water, Air, & Soil

December

• 6-7 - Transboundary Workshop (Saskatchewan, Canada)
  For more information click here

• 6-8 - Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention (Billings, MT)
  For more information click here

• 7 - FWP Region 1 Wolf Meeting (Kalispell, MT)

• 12 - FWP Virtual Meeting – (visit fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/draft-wolf-mgmt-plan) for login information

January

• 6 - Montana NWTF Grant Deadline
  For registration details click here

• 16 - Eastern MT Regenerative Ag - Business Mtng
  For registration details click here

• 16-17 - Innovative Crop Systems (Miles City, MT)
  For more information click here

• 19 - Rancher's Stewardship Alliance Annual Banquet (Malta, MT)
  For registration details click here

• 23 - MT Ag Technology Innovation & Investment Summit (Great Falls, MT) For more information & agenda click here

February

• 6-8 - Montana Soil Health Symposium
  For registration details click here

Contacts

Stacey Barta, State Coordinator for Rangelands
(406) 594-8481
SBarta@mt.gov

Shantell Martin, Program Specialist
(406) 531-4584
shantell.frame-martin2@mt.gov

Rangeland Resources Committee:

Diane Ahlgren, Chair
John Hollenback, Vice Chair
Sigurd Jensen
Jim Anderson
Leah Lewis
Ron Devlin