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

Stepping Lightly in the Sage Researchers Learn Moderate Grazing Has No Effect on Sage Grouse Nest Success Rancher Richard Ward grew up alongside greater sage grouse and observed their spring mating, or lekking displays, in the open land around the Jim Sage Mountains of southern Idaho. He heard the ethereal pulsing of sage grouse mating calls on cold spring mornings and watched the birds’ lumbering flight across open country. And he is aware that sage grouse have for many years been considered for the endangered species list.

Summer Highlight: Working Lands Internship Program

Myles Elasser I was looking for a chance to start my career in ranching and found the Working Lands Internship program to be a perfect opportunity to get hands-on experience and a chance to work with many different ranchers with different operations. Through this internship I’ve experienced feeding, moving, doctoring and butchering cattle. I am a student at MSU studying rangeland ecology, a member of the plant ID team and range club. I study plants to look for ways to increase ranch production and improve land conditions focusing on the plant side of things. When I started this internship, I had no hands-on experience in ranching. I've been able to work at six ranches throughout this summer. My favorite part of the internship program has been getting to work on the amazing host ranches that have generously given their time and access to their ranches. All of the ranchers have helped me immensely with everything I learned this summer and allowed me to see different ranch operations. Bringing a good work ethic and a readiness to get dirty, I’ve had to work in grain silos to chicken coops. I've been knee deep in mud and exhausted after 12 days, but keeping a smile and joking personality is what I do best. Being given this opportunity I’m forever grateful that I was able to learn skills that will help me in my future in the ranching world. I had such great teachers that were there to show me the simplest things, such as changing parts on a tractor all the way to riding horses and branding. I will use the skills that I learned this summer in my career in ranching and what I’ve learned will be utilized for what comes next in my life.

Climate-Smart Practices Help MT Farm Flourish Montana’s Bridger Mountain Range is home to the small farming and ranching community of Wilsall in the Shields River Valley. The Bays family calls this area home, where they operate Highland Harmony Farm. Vanessa and John Bays, along with their daughter Sadie Collins, grow and market many products including legumes, oats, grains, flowers, and bees to sell honey. With their wide variety of inventory, they utilize the local farmers markets year-round, run a storefront on their farm, and an online store to sell their products. Their farm motto is, Healthy Soil and Happy Plants – Living in Harmony.

Squeal on Pigs Hotline Working Well

Last week, a tip was sent into the Squeal on Pigs Hotline that a wild boar was spotted running loose on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation near Three Buttes, MT. However, after further investigation, it was determined the hog was a domestic pig which was captured and returned to its owner.

Northern News Network’s Cody Ross spoke with Montana State Veterinarian Tahnee Szymanski, DVM at the Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) who said the investigation was in coordination with USDA Wildlife Services and a local district investigator since the DOL does not have authority on the Fort Belknap Reservation.

Grazing and Grazers Support Pollinators’ Critical Role in Ecology  While most people are familiar with the classic European honey beehives, most native bee species in western rangelands excavate nests under small patches of bare ground, where they raise their young. In fact, bare ground is a habitat requirement for 70% of these solitary ground-nesting bees. New WLFW-supported research explored how grazing impacts these, and other, critical pollinators, including the supportive role grazing animals like cattle have on maintaining reproductive habitat for ground-nesting bees.

Montana’s Record Low Water Levels Impact Ag and Conservation

Drought, much like farming, is a domino effect. El Niño was predicted, but a drought to this extent wasn't as clear in the cards. This summer, Montana's Blackfoot River has experienced significant declines in water levels due to a mix of last winter's minimal snowpack, recent dry conditions and high temperatures.

WSE Helps Secure State of Montana Grant for Working and Natural Lands

The State of Montana received a nearly $50 million investment in Montana’s working and natural lands [westernsustainabilityexchange.us11.list-manage.com] from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Montana is one of just 25 recipients across the nation to be awarded funding and WSE was influential in its efforts.

Changes coming to farm loan programs

Conservation & Partnerships

RSA Is Hiring!

Available positions include Conservation Director, Fiscal Manager, Education Program Manager use the link below to apply today!

Exploring the Boundaries of Virtual Fence

Did you miss the webinar on August 15?

No worries! Click the button below to watch and learn more about the basics of virtual fence (VF) technology, including an overview of the components, potential applications, and compare the current and emerging VF vendors. We hope this webinar will empower you to effectively evaluate VF for sustainable rangeland management.

Annual Convention Internship Program

The MSGA Annual Convention Internship Program was created to provide students with a hands-on experience of the various facets of association event planning and execution, policy development, social media engagement and coverage.

Applicants will be accepted until September 15, 2024. The internship will take place December 2 – 7, 2024.

Positions Available:

• Policy Intern
• Communications & Media Relations Intern
• General Production Intern

Provide Montana's farmers and ranchers with resources, trainings, and support to increase workplace safety within Montana's agriculture industry.

Submit Comments on Grouse Stewardship Grant Draft Environmental Assessments

The Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program is soliciting public comment on proposed uses of the Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Stewardship Fund to benefit sage grouse and conserve important sage grouse habitats. MSGOT requests public comment on a draft environmental assessment for two perpetual conservation easement projects sponsored by Montana Land Reliance.

Agency Updates

Funding Available Now!

Multiple Grant Opportunities

DNRC administers a wide range of grants and loans for Montana, assisting cities and towns, conservation districts, private landowners, and other groups in managing natural resource issues at the local level. 

NRCS Sets Conservation Program Funding Application Dates

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Montana is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE), and Agricultural Land Easements (ALE). There are several dates to be aware of for the current funding cycle of these programs.
• ALE Inflation Reduction Act: Oct. 4, 2024
• EQIP: Oct. 25, 2024
• RCPP Land Management and Rentals: Oct. 11, 2024
• RCPP Entity Held Easements: Nov. 1, 2024
• ALE Farm Bill: Nov. 29, 2024
• WRE Farm Bill: Nov. 1, 2024
• CSP Classic: Dec. 27, 2024

EQIP Customer Survey Deadline is 9/10/24

Have you participated in our Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) in the last three years? If so, we want to hear from you!

To continually improve our flagship conservation program, we're asking our EQIP customers to participate in a survey. (Note that if you've already completed the survey, please do not submit a second response.) It's open right now through September 10, 2024.

Celebrate Ag is growing in 2024!

The MSU College of Agriculture, Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and MSU Extension are excited to announce a reimagined Celebrate Ag experience for 2024! This event stands as a vibrant tribute to the rich legacy of agriculture, natural resources and life sciences in Montana. This gathering serves as a platform to honor the state's agricultural heritage that encompasses allied industries while celebrating its present and future leaders, producers and students. Taking place on the Montana State University campus in Bozeman, Celebrate Ag embodies the essence of resilience, innovation and stewardship that define the Treasure State's agricultural community.

FWP announces public comment opportunities

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on environmental assessments (EAs), conservation leases and other department projects. For the full list of proposals, more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link below.

Hunter Education courses offered in NW Montana

Hunter Education classes and a Trapper Education field day are open to registration in northwest Montana this fall. All in-person classes are free. Students must be at least 10 years old to take a Hunter Education class. 

Additional classes in other regional communities could become available but no later than October.

Students ages 12 through 17 who take Hunter or Bowhunter Education online will also be required to pass an in-person field day. A field day for online students in the Flathead Valley will be scheduled later this fall.

Pesticide Container Recycling Program      Container Eligibility Requirements Product containers that can be accepted for recycling through the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC) sponsored programs must meet these criteria: Eligible Rigid high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 55 gallons and smaller, that previously held products utilized in the following markets: Crop Protection – Containers that held EPA registered crop protection products labeled for agricultural uses. Containers that previously held non-registered products such as biologicals, adjuvants, crop oils and surfactants are also eligible for recycling. Specialty Pesticides and Fertilizers – Containers that held EPA – registered products labeled for professional Structural Pest Control, Animal Health, Turf and Ornamental, Vegetation Management, Nursery and Greenhouse, Forestry, Aquatics, and Public Health uses are eligible for recycling. Also acceptable are containers holding micronutrients, biologicals, fertilizer, and adjuvant products. Pest Control Operators, Structural Pest Control – Containers that held EPA registered products labeled for professional application. Not Eligible Any container constructed of anything other than HDPE, rotationally molded containers, mini-bulk, intermediate bulk containers (IBC), totes, and all containers that previously held products utilized in the following markets: Consumer Home & Garden, Pest Control and Swimming Pool Maintenance – Containers that previously held products labeled for consumer use in households, lawn and garden, and swimming pool uses are not eligible for recycling in the ACRC program.

MDA Pesticide Training Newsletter
August 2024

Checkout the August issue of MDA's Pesticide Training newsletter! In the issue you will find details about: Expiring License Categories, MSU 2024 Fall Pesticide Tour, MDA 2024 Fall Pesticide Recertification Trainings, DEQ Pesticide General Permit, Plant Identification – Using Smartphone Apps, MDA Pesticide Container Recycling 2024 Calendar, MDA Pesticide Waste Disposal Program, EDDR Roundup, Fall Webinar Opportunity and more!

USDA Accepts More Than 2.2 Million Acres Through 2024 Grassland, General and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program Offers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for more than 2.2 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Grassland, General, and Continuous   Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signups administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). With these accepted acres, enrollment is very near the 27 million CRP acreage cap.

USDA Offers Free September 5 Webinar on Depreciation and Ag Taxes

Join USDA for a webinar discussing the impact of depreciation on taxes for farm and ranch businesses. The investment in machinery and equipment, buildings, and breeding livestock required by agricultural producers can be significant and this presentation will discuss how depreciation in value of investments can affect your taxes.

Event: Ag Taxes: An Introduction to Depreciation

Date: Thursday, September 5, 2024

Time: 12 p.m. ET

USDA Seeks Applications to Create and Save Jobs in Rural Areas

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for funding that will help rural businesses create and save jobs in their communities.
Applicants may use funds to support business startup, expansion and incubators; technical assistance and feasibility studies; essential community facilities; and advanced telecommunications services and computer networks for medical, educational and job training opportunities.

Podcast Corner

Episode 102: The Learning Experience of Regenerative Ag with Dr. Allen Williams Allen Williams is a 6th-generation farmer and founding partner of Grass Fed Insights, Understanding Ag, and the Soil Health Academy. He has consulted with over 4,000 farmers and ranchers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America, and other regions on operations ranging from a few acres to over 1 million. Allen and his colleagues specialize in whole farm and ranch planning based on regenerative agriculture concepts. Their approach creates significant “value add” and prepares the landowner for multiple revenue stream opportunities that stack enterprises and acres, enhancing profitability and investment value.

Research Center

To make the 406 Rangelands newsletter more reader friendly, the "Research Center" section has been permanently moved to the Rangeland Resources Program website. You can access it here.

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September

• 4 - Winnett ACES Board Meeting (Winnett, MT/Virtual)
  To join, click here

•  5 - MSGOT Oversight Team Meeting (Virtual)
  For registration details click here

• 11 - Snowcrest Ranch Fall Tour (Alder, MT)
  RSVP Pat Fosse 406-660-2386 or click here

• 12 - MSU & MAES Field Day (Corvallis, MT)
  Western Ag Research Center, click here for details

• MT CattleWomen Ranch Run & Tough Udder (Ennis, MT)
  For details and to sign up, click here

• 18-20 - MWCC Watershed Tour (Sun River, MT)
  For agenda & registration information, click here

• 23rd-25th Expanding Markets Conference (Billings)
  23 - Pre-conference field tour (Lodge Grass, MT)
  For registration & Field tour registration, click here

• 21 - MFBF Hoofin' it for Hunger race (Dillon, MT)
  For details, click here

• 30- Oct 3 - NAISMA (Missoula, MT)
  For details & registration information click here

October 

• 1 - North Valley County Ranch Tour (Glasgow, MT)
  For registration details, click here 

• 8-9 - Rangeland Resource Committee Mtng (Grass Range, MT)
  For more information, click here

• 16 - AIS Training Workshop (Bozeman, MT)
  For more information, click here

• 22-24 - Transboundary Grasslands Partnership (Shelby, MT)
  For details, click here

November

• 4-9 - Celebrate Agriculture (Bozeman, MT)
  Click here for details and schedule of events

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February

• 4-6 - Montana Soil Health Symposium
  For registration information, click here

• 9-13 - Society for Range Management (Spokane, WA)
  For registration information, 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