Conservation & Partnerships
RSA Receives National BLM Award
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently announced the winners of the 2024 Rangeland Stewardship and Rangeland Innovations awards, which recognize exemplary management and outstanding accomplishments in restoring and maintaining the health of public rangelands.
The awards were presented Sept. 18 at a ceremony hosted by the Public Lands Council during its 56th Annual Meeting, held this year in Grand Junction, Colo. The BLM and Public Lands Council have partnered for 19 years to honor BLM livestock grazing permittees and lessees who demonstrate exceptional management, collaboration, and communication that restores, conserves, or enhances our public lands, and to recognize their accomplishments at a gathering of their peers.
Job Announcement!
Conservation Technician Location: In-person office located at the Natural Resources and Conservation Service Winnett Field Office in Winnett, Montana. There is available housing in the Winnett community. Application Deadline: October 15, 2024 by 5:00 pm
MSGA to Host Water Education Series
As we begin to prepare for the 2025 legislative session and MSGa’s annual convention, water is anticipated to be a topic on the minds of many. The comprehensive working group has worked alongside DNRC to develop proposed policy on priority issues.
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.
Biden-Harris Administration Invests Nearly $20 Million to Improve Siting of Renewable Energy and Co-Locate Solar with Cattle Grazing
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of six projects totaling $11.6 million funded by the Inflation Reduction Act in the second round of a program that will improve planning, siting, and permitting processes for large-scale renewable energy facilities. Six state-based collaborative teams will develop statewide and Tribal initiatives to support communities in evaluating and planning for large-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects.
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. • RCPP Entity Held Easements: Nov. 1, 2024 • ALE Farm Bill: Nov. 29, 2024 • WRE Farm Bill: Nov. 1, 2024 • CSP Classic: Dec. 27, 2024
Conservation Innovation Grant Helps Landowners Reduce Conflicts with Predators
After being hunted to near extinction in the early 1900s and listed as endangered species in the 1970s, the grizzly bear and wolf populations have rebounded throughout the American west.
While their numbers still pale in comparison to their heydays, nearly 2,000 grizzly bears and more than 5,000 wolves are now estimated to reside in Montana, Idaho, and other nearby states. As their populations have increased in recent years, so have their impact on working lands.
Record Enrollment!
Montana State University made history this fall semester as the first school in the Montana University System to post an enrollment of more than 17,000 students [montana.us4.list-manage.com]. The Dan Scott Ranch Management Program also celebrated an enrollment milestone this fall with a total of 47 students majoring in Ranching Systems. As the program continues to grow, the competition will get tighter for the 10 available slots each year. Students will be challenged to bring experience, a growth mindset, and a serious work ethic to stand out from the many excellent candidates
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.
FWP releases final EIS for statewide grizzly bear management
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has released a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing potential environmental impacts from the statewide management of grizzly bears.
Issuing the final EIS is a key step in a process that started in December of 2022, when FWP originally released the draft EIS for two months of public comment. The draft EIS went out for an additional 30 days of public comment in February of this year to ensure partner agencies, affected county governments, and tribal agencies had a chance for review.
Growth Through Agriculture Grant & Loan Program Requesting Proposals
The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is announcing the opening of the FY2025 funding cycle for the Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) Program. Montanans interested in innovating or expanding agricultural businesses are invited to apply for funds through the state grant and loan program.
The annual Pest Management Tour is a last chance opportunity for private applicators in PAT District 2 (southwest Montana) to obtain recertification credits before the December 31, 2024 license expiration date. Three credits will be offered for each session (AM or PM) at each location. Attendees may attend both sessions to accumulate six recertification credits.
For more information about this event please contact Amy Bowser (406-994-5178, amy.bowser@montana.edu) or Cecil Tharp (406-994-5067, ctharp@montana.edu).
Dates and Locations
- Dillon, October 15
- Deer Lodge, October 15
- Helena, October 16
- Townsend, October 16
- Whitehall, October 17
- Ennis, October 17
- Clyde Park, October 18
- Bozeman, October 18
Pesticide Recertification Training – Fall 2024
This year’s training includes a variety of topics, including pesticide storage, non-target herbicide damage, Montana pesticide rules update, pesticide water permits, Montana weeds update, native plant communities and ecology, equipment winterization, grasshopper outlook for 2025, herbicide resistance, water quality, and professionalism.
There will be eight locations across the state in which to attend trainings. Topics and credits vary depending on the training location so be sure to view the associated agenda before registering. The cost for each training is $30. Upon registration, information and details about the training will be emailed to you. Please contact Beth Thomas with any questions at 406-444-3732.
October 17 th Hampton Inn, 1140 2nd Street West Kalispell Agenda
October 18 th Missoula County Weed, 1075 South Avenue West Missoula Agenda
October 22 nd Hampton Inn Billings, 5110 Southgate Drive Billings Agenda
October 23 rd Holiday Inn Express, 1919 North Merrill Avenue Glendive Agenda
October 24 th Cottonwood Inn and Suites, 54250 US Highway 2 Glasgow Agenda
October 25 th Best Western Havre Plus, 1425 2nd Street Northwest Havre Agenda
October 30 th Holiday Inn Express, 309 West Madison Avenue Belgrade Agenda
December 11 th Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds, 98 West Custer Avenue Helena Agenda
Registration
USDA Farm Loan Program Changes Now in Effect
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) long-awaited updates to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs are officially in effect. These changes, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule [links-1.govdelivery.com], are designed to increase financial flexibility for agricultural producers, allowing them to grow their operations, boost profitability, and build long-term savings.
Podcast Corner
IRS SOS
Tax deadlines and end-of-year planning are looming! Join Haylie Shipp as she chats with Britney Tempel (CPA at Montana Roots Accounting), Angel Devries (CPA and RSA Executive Director), and Michelle Math (rancher and RSA board member).
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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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