Conservation & Partnerships
 Checkout the Great Basin Fire Exchange newsletter for details about research, educational events, and webinars.
 IMAGINE uses coproduced science, outreach, and education programs to develop, implement, evaluate, and adjust statewide and regional strategies for mitigating impacts of invasive annual grasses in rangelands while empowering informed decision making by landowners and managers
Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Kicks Off Free Rural Resilience Webinar Series
The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is proud to announce the fifth annual Rural Resilience Webinar Series, a free educational program designed to help ranchers and rural residents grow their financial, ecological, and social resilience. This four-part series, held via Zoom on the fourth Thursday of each month from January to April, provides expert insights, actionable strategies, and an opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about the future of ranching and rural communities.
Webinar Schedule:
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Thursday, March 27 – Cashing in on Your Cash Crop
What value-added programs actually add value when marketing calves? Presenter: Jessica Sperber, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
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Thursday, April 24 – Managing Risk for Ranching
Get the ins and outs of pasture, rangeland, and forage (PRF) insurance. Presenters: Brad Beck & McKay Erickson, Redd Summit
Each webinar runs from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Mountain Time, featuring a 60-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute Q&A, where participants can engage directly with the presenters.
“We’re thrilled to offer this space for meaningful conversations and practical takeaways,” said Mary Oxarart, RSA Education Program Manager.
Pre-registration is required, and participants will receive the Zoom link upon registering.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside others dedicated to resilient ranching!
 Nominations Open for 2025 Montana Environmental Stewardship Award
Application Deadline: May 1, 2025
The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Montana Environmental Stewardship Award (ESAP). Each year, MSGA honors a Montana ranch that exemplifies environmental stewardship and demonstrates a commitment toward improved sustainability within the beef industry. The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2025.
Montana Stockgrowers Foundation Welcomes New Trustees
As 2025 begins, the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is excited to welcome three new members to the board of trustees— Greg Putnam of Martinsdale, Sara Stevenson of White Sulphur Springs and Shayne Vandivort of Billings.
 Watershed Fund Professional Development
Funding Available Now!
Need a little money for your staff, board, and Big Sky Watershed Corps members to build their skills to improve water quality in your watershed? Professional Development grants through the MWCC Watershed Fund has re-opened to help local watershed conservation organizations increase their capacity to reduce and prevent nonpoint source (NPS) pollution through workshops, conferences, and other relevant trainings directly related to this work.
Snowy Mountain Development
Have you seen Snowy Mountain Development's February Newsletter?! If not, you need to check it out! It's packed with all kinds of educational events and funding opportunities! Use the link below and read it today!
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.
 MDA Offers Pesticide Container Recycling Opportunities
The Montana Department of Agriculture will be hosting the 2025 Waste Disposal Events across the state starting in April. For a full list of events, click the button below.
BLM, USDA Forest Service announce 2025 grazing fees
The federal grazing fee for 2025 remains $1.35 per animal unit month for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and $1.35 per head month for lands managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
An animal unit month or head month — treated as equivalent measures for fee purposes — is the use of public lands by one cow and her calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month. The newly calculated grazing fee takes effect March 1, 2025. The fee will apply to nearly 18,000 grazing permits and leases administered by BLM and nearly 6,250 permits administered by the Forest Service.
 USDA Announces Grant Funding Opportunity for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is making available $2.5 million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants, building on $53.7 million invested in UAIP grant projects by OUAIP since 2020. Eligible entities should apply by March 10, 2025.
“This grant program continues to grow in popularity, and we look forward to partnering with more communities nationwide to strengthen local food systems and increase access to healthy foods,” said Louis Aspey, Acting Chief of NRCS. “We’re also excited for this opportunity to add experienced Urban Agriculture Conservation Extension Educators to enhance our customer service through the partnership with NIFA.”
 A New Biocontrol Agent for Hoary Cress - A Mighty Mite?
The hoary cresses are regarded as a complex of three species of which Lepidium draba (hoary cress, whitetop, or heart-pod hoary cress), and L. chalepense (lens-podded hoary cress) are most widespread in Montana. Hoary cress is considered one of the worst weeds of agriculture in several parts of the world, including Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, parts of Africa, and western Europe. Hoary cress displaces native plant species, alters natural food webs, and may increase streamside soil erosion.
 Public Comment Opportunities
Conservation leases gaining steam in Montana
When the Habitat Conservation Lease Program started two years ago, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks set a goal of conserving 500,000 acres within five years. With the recent completion of 13 leases and the potential for 33 proposed leases now under consideration, FWP is nearly halfway to reaching that goal.
 Cattle and Bison Imports from Mexico Resume Under New Protocol
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the resumption of cattle and bison imports from Mexico. Imports are scheduled to resume within the next several days.
To protect U.S. livestock and other animals, APHIS halted shipments of Mexican cattle and bison in November 2024 after a positive detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in southern Mexico. After extensive discussions between representatives from the countries, APHIS and Mexico agreed to and implemented a comprehensive pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol to ensure safe movement and mitigate the threat of NWS.
Podcast Corner
An Honest Look at Cow Size
- How could we be doing a disservice by calculating cow size incorrectly
- What changes have happened in the industry through the years
- Pros and cons of big or small cows
- And how to best line up cow size to your needs.
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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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