Conservation & Partnerships
 Montana Natural Heritage Program Releases New Website
The Montana Natural Heritage Program is pleased to announce the release of our new website! Give it a try and update your bookmarks as needed.
Special thanks to MNHP partners for their support to be Montana's source for reliable and objective information on Montana's species and habitats!
 Conni French Continues Steadfast Leadership of Ranchers Stewardship Alliance
The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is celebrating its first quarter under the leadership of Board President Conni French, who stepped into the role in January following the dedicated tenure of longtime leader Leo Barthelmess. French’s leadership continues the steadfast, rancher-led approach that has guided RSA since its inception, ensuring that the organization remains a trusted force for stewardship, conservation, and community resilience.
 Montana Stockgrowers Represents Montana Ranchers During WOTUS Listening Session
Montana Stockgrowers Association’s (MSGA) Executive Vice President, Raylee Honeycutt, shared the organization’s continued request for certainty and clarity regarding the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule during the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) agricultural stakeholders listening session. Honeycutt was the only speaker among the 45 speakers from across the country that represented Montana agriculture.
 Looking to buy or sell hay or straw? Need to lease pasture or have some available? Mountain West Grazing is here to help! With the launch of the grazing connection, you can easily post listings FOR FREE to connect with others in the ag community - this is your go-to resource.
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.
 Waste Disposal Events
For a full list of waste disposal events, click the button below.
BLM Montana-Dakotas sold oil and gas leases bring in over $3.4 million
The Bureau of Land Management Montana-Dakotas State Office leased 11 parcels totaling 4,266.06 acres for $3,413,797 in total receipts for its quarterly oil and gas lease sale. The combined bonus bids and rentals from the leases will be distributed between the federal government and the States of Montana and North Dakota.
 United States and Mexico Reach Agreement to Resume Eradication Efforts on New World Screwworm
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced today that Mexico has committed to eliminate restrictions on USDA aircraft, and waive customs duties on eradication equipment aiding in the response to the spread of New World Screwworm (NWS). Due to this agreement the ports will remain open to livestock imports, however if at any time these terms are not upheld, port closure will be revisited. This agreement follows Secretary Rollins’ letter to Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegue Sacristan on Saturday pushing for a resolution of the restrictions.
Integrated management of ventenata infested rangelands using herbicides and fertilizers
Montana ranchers want high productivity forage, but this can be decreased by invasive plants. The invasive annual grass ventenata (Ventenata dubia) is found in pastures and rangelands where it can cause a decline in forage production. Herbicides with active ingredients indaziflam, imazapic, and flufenacet + metribuzin are used to manage ventenata in range and pasture. In these systems, it is hoped that removing ventenata will allow for recovery and growth of desired perennial forage grasses.
 FWP Public Notices & Opportunity for Comment
Two sheep test positive for pneumonia-causing bacteria north central Montana
Test results from two rams from bighorn sheep hunting district 622 have tested positive for a microorganism that can cause pneumonia.
One of the sheep tested was harvested by a hunter this past fall. The second ram died during spring survey efforts by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and had visible evidence of pneumonia in his lungs. Both rams tested positive for Mycoplasma ovipneumonia or M. ovi.
M. ovi can facilitate infections by other bacteria, leading to pneumonia outbreaks in bighorn sheep herds. FWP has documented such outbreaks, and subsequent population declines in other bighorn sheep herds in Montana.
Podcast Corner
Ep. 366: Why You Should Care about Rangeland with Jeff Goodwin
Cal and Jordan sit down with Jeff Goodwin, the Director of the Center for Grazing lands and Ranch Management. They talk about what rangeland is, how it's managed, and why hunters should care.
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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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