Conservation & Partnerships
US Veterans Finding Good Fit with MSU Dan Scott Ranch Management
Montana’s oldest land grant institute recently started one of the nation’s leading ranching systems degrees that prepares students for Montana’s number one industry.
The Dan Scott Ranch Management program was started in 2019 so graduates could have knowledge and skills to employ prudent ranching practices that create value and improve the state and country’s natural resources. However, the program has since drawn students that didn’t always have ranching backgrounds. No, it’s actually becoming an excellent fit for men and women who have given all they can to this country.
New Dashboard for Invasive Weeds
The Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) has released a NEW INVASIVE WEED DASHBOARD that summarizes information in MTNHP databases on non-native vascular plants statewide or within user selected filters for County, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or Tribal jurisdictional boundaries. In addition to displaying total counts of species and numbers of observations, the application includes relative density maps, maps displaying the cumulative risk of invasion by state-listed noxious weeds, a graphical summary of observations for individual species, and summaries of observations submitted to MTNHP over time and by data source. Links to other information resources on non-native and native species are also included. These include cumulative risk maps for state-listed noxious weeds in individual counties with output rescaled to just the county of interest.
"Rural Resilience" Webinar Series
Growing our ranching and rural community’s financial, ecological, and social resilience with experienced, hand-selected speakers, the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance “Rural Resilience” webinar series is back for a fourth year!
While final details are still being ironed out, here’s a look a the dates and topics:
- Thursday, January 25 – CattleFax Update w/ Matthew McQuagge
- Thursday, February 22 – Lessons Learned with Goats w/ Carmen Salveson
- Thursday, March 28 – Rural Trends w/ Julia Haggerty, Montana State
- Thursday, April 25 – Beef Direct Marketing w/ Montana RancHERS Beef Co.
Each FREE webinar will last 90 minutes with plenty of time for interaction.
NRCS and Partners Work Together to Help Families Keep Their Land Green-Side Up
Strategically placed conservation easements are one of the best tools available for protecting working lands. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has long provided funding support, technical assistance, and conservation planning to help facilitate conservation easements.
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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.
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Protecting U.S. Rangeland From Grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets
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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Provides $468 Million in Wildfire Resilience
Interior this week outlined how more than $468 million in fiscal year 2023 funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is reducing wildfire risk, mitigating impacts and rehabilitating burned areas across the country.
NRCS and Montana Salinity Control Association Announce Funding Opportunity Focused on Saline Seep Reclamation
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering technical and financial assistance through the Montana Saline Seep Reclamation Project in partnership with the Montana Salinity Control Association (MSCA) to agricultural landowners across the state. While NRCS accepts applications for all programs year-round, producers and landowners should apply for this opportunity by the December 15, 2023, batching date to be considered for this funding cycle.
Taking No-Till to the Next Level
Jason Brewer thought he was a no-till farmer until he learned he wasn’t.
In 2014, Brewer went with a group of Montana farmers to North Dakota with the Rosebud Conservation District to see what farmers had been doing there since the 1990s to improve soil health.
“It was a shock to think you were a no-till farmer for that long (23 years) and then have somebody tell you really weren’t no-till farming,” said Brewer, who has farmed in Rosebud County, Mont., his whole life. He had been using a hoe drill for 20 years and thought that he was a no-till farmer, but quickly learned that there was more to it than that. “When I came back, I bought a drill like they were using and started planting cover crops and continued no-till farming with a disc drill, which saves moisture and disturbs the soil less.”
Cattle Hard at Work in Eastern Montana
Bryan and Chelsea Phipps are using their cattle as tools to improve soil health, reduce erosion and weeds, and harvest one of our planet’s greatest resources – sunlight on their ranch near Brusett, Mont. This new management style has other rewards for the family, including less stress and better financial returns.
“Everything we do to improve our soil health, we can make that work to improve our animal health. If those two things improve, our financials are going to see the benefit. And our quality of life. It’s a lot easier in a drought year, like this year (June 2017), to not be stressed and worrying about what our cows are going to eat,” said Chelsea.
The Bureau of Land Management invites the public to comment on recreation fees along the Madison River Corridor
The Bureau of Land Management Dillon Field Office is proposing to increase and begin collection of fees at BLM recreation sites along the Madison River.
Costs for general maintenance and daily operations of these sites is increasing annually. In addition, there has been a sharp increase in recreation use of these sites over the past five years. For example, in the summer of 2022, 58,347 passenger vehicles accessed the Warm Springs recreation site, up from 37,617 in 2019. Increasing operational costs and more visitor pressure has highlighted the need for year-round maintenance, as well as required supplemental staff presence to provide satisfactory visitor services. Revisions to fees will allow the BLM to plan for adequate staffing, adding flexibility for resource management and enhanced land-use planning activities. These proposed fees will also support improved visitor safety and amenities.
MSU Extension and Montana Stockgrowers Association announce 2023 Steer of Merit certifications
Montana State University Extension and the Montana Stockgrowers Association awarded 2023 Steer of Merit certifications at the association’s Dec. 7 convention in Billings. MSU Extension beef cattle specialist Megan Van Emon presented the top five winners of the carcass and ultrasound Steer of Merit contests at a Best of Beef Luncheon. MSU Extension and Montana Stockgrowers Association distinguished 136 “Steers of Merit” out of 1,290 entries in 2023. Out of 555 steers entered in the carcass division, 83 were deemed Steers of Merit. In the ultrasound division, 53 out of 735 entries received the distinction. The number of certifications was similar to the prior year, noted Van Emon.
Applications sought for upland game bird council
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking to fill a vacancy on an advisory council that monitors upland game bird enhancement program activities. The vacancy must be filled by someone who resides in in Region 3, southwest Montana.
Council members represent all FWP administrative regions and include upland game bird hunters, landowners, upland game bird biologists and others who have conservation interests.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza found in Canada geese at Laurel’s South Pond
Canada geese that were found dead at Laurel’s South Pond earlier this week have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff responded to reports of sick and dead Canada geese at the popular Laurel park on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Carcasses were transported to FWP’s Wildlife Health Lab in Bozeman for HPAI testing.
FWP adopts new elk management plan and environmental assessment
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has adopted the 2023 Elk Management Plan and accompanying environmental assessment. The elk plan lays out how FWP will manage elk; the EA is an evaluation and summary of potential impacts on the physical environment and human population. The new plan is flexible and reflects current elk management direction and challenges, as well as being forward looking in anticipating management changes.
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.
Biden-Harris Administration Proposes First-of-its Kind National Forest Plan Amendment to Conserve and Steward Old Growth Forests
With direction from President Biden in Executive Order 14072 to conserve and restore old and mature forests, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a proposal to amend all 128 forest land management plans to conserve and steward old-growth forest conditions on national forests and grasslands nationwide.
Healthy, climate-resilient old-growth forests store large amounts of carbon, increase biodiversity, reduce wildfire risks, enable subsistence and cultural uses, provide outdoor recreational opportunities and promote sustainable local economic development. Land management plans provide direction for how national forests and grasslands are managed for their many uses, including conservation. The proposed amendment will use the best available science, including Indigenous Knowledge, to provide consistent direction related to old-growth forest conditions across national forests and grasslands.
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.
Podcast Corner
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"Groundwork" Episode 6: Winnett ACES: Strengthening Community & Keeping Ranchers on Working Lands |
AoR 120: Could Virtual Fence Transform Rangeland Grazing?
What if grazed wild, open spaces were actually open? Is barbed wire still useful? Can we afford it? Are there other ways to control livestock distribution today? Would other options be "better"? Fenceless control of livestock has been discussed for decades, and these technologies may mimic herding, which was practiced nearly everywhere, at least on large landscapes, up until the invention and adoption of barbed wire in the late 1800s.
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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:
Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT:
Pest Management Research, Sidney, MT:
USDA- Wildlife Services:
US Forest Service Research & Development:
Research topic: Fire
Research topic: Water, Air, & Soil
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