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 406 Grazing Academy participants at the Northern Ag. Research Center (NARC) outside of Havre on 6/5/2025.
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. The Rangeland Resources Committee provides guidance to the Rangeland Resources Program and is administratively attached to DNRC.
News
Working Lands Intern Update
By: Savannah Deuter
I always have enjoyed working cattle, whether from a 4 wheeler or a horse, and I love reading the herd, watching their ears and gaze and reacting accordingly. It is especially enjoyable when you get thrown in with a good team who can read each others’ body language and anticipate thought.
I learned how to cut bull calves as compared to banding, and discovered that I do indeed not have a hankering for rocky mountain oysters. I am now quite confident in vaxxing and tagging, and have seen different chute-styles that folks use during the branding process, as well as the pros and cons of different corral structures and fencing methods.
Moving away from the cattle aspect, I’ve become quite intimately familiar with the workings of water tanks, from the insertion of pipes to hydrants to floats. There was even an instance where, given my smaller stature, I was tasked with adjusting a float in one of those covered-insulated fiberglass tanks. Quite the experience, to say the least.
This highlights only a narrow sliver of the expansive experiences I’ve partaken in, and it would take me many more paragraphs to recount all of the skid steering, fence mending, bull hazing, prank playing, hand-shaking, conversating, shooting-the-winding, calf wrangling, irrigating, mechanicing, tinkering, and countless other -ings that are the nature of ranching. This in itself relates strictly to hard skills I’ve acquired, and doesn’t begin to consider the more panoramic and encompassing view concerning social, political, and economical climates that are frequently imposed upon our ranchers and farmers. I aim to become more versed in this complex world of policies and interrelations and regulations, and look forward to more riveting and fascinating conversations with folks in the agricultural community.
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2025 Montana Range Tour a Success!
On June 18 Wickens Salt Creek Ranch hosted the 2025 Montana Range Tour outside of Winifred, Montana. Around 100 people converged to learn about regenerative grazing, soil health, and tour the Wickens' beef cattle operation. Eric & Emma Wickens are the 2024 Leopold Conservation Award winners, and the tour featured guest speaker Byron Shelton, the Senior Program Director for Savory Institute. Byron was joined by Kendall Morgan of the Winnett ACES.
The Montana Range Tour is an educational field day for ranchers desiring to learn from others who are leaders in implementing innovative on-the-ground grazing and agricultural practices. The event features guest speakers, a tour of the current Leopold Conservation Award winning ranch operation, and networking opportunities to build relationships with like-minded stewards of Montana’s rangelands.
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Stakeholders emphasize value of next generation, telling beef's story
Beef industry experts share insights on effective communication, labor considerations, technological advancements, mentoring the next generation, and sustainability initiatives at a recent panel discussion.
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USDA Signs Historic Agreement to Reduce Wildfire Risk in Montana
Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a historic Shared Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a new framework between the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the State of Montana to advance forest restoration and reduce wildfire risk across the state.
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Are Public Lands For Sale?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Myth vs. Fact. Checkout this fact sheet to learn more about the recently signed federal legislation.
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Foreign animal disease prevention, preparedness legislation reintroduced
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) has reintroduced the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance and Rapid Response Act. This legislation makes critical investments in the foremost animal health programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that are critical to protecting America’s farmers’ and ranchers’ livestock operations from devastating foreign animal diseases and pests. Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Don Davis (D-N.C.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) are co-leading this legislation.
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New World Screwworm threat is real for ranchers
Donnell Brown, owner of the RA Brown Ranch located at Throckmorton, Texas, joins us today to visit about his concerns over threats of the New World Screwworm and it’s implications to the cattle industries in both the U.S. and Mexico.
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Conservation & Partnerships
 MSL-NRCS Data Partnership News
Following a soft release in April, the Montana State Library would like to announce the release of the newly redesigned Ecological Site Reviewer application. A collaboration with the USDA NRCS, this app provides access to map layers and attributes for basic environmental properties, ecological characteristics, and background reference information for sites throughout Montana. With the redesign, the application is mobile device friendly with improved performance for phone and tablet access.
MDOL Announces Animal Health Disease Preparedness Meetings
The Montana Department of Livestock is holding meetings across Montana to discuss emergency disease preparedness and response with livestock producers, veterinarians, and stakeholders. Anyone with connections to the livestock industry is encouraged to attend.
Meetings will include interactive discussion with attendees to identify specific challenges that will need to be addressed and resources and solutions that can be employed during a large-scale disease outbreak. The information collected will be combined into a statewide plan.
Options for Damaged Fields After Recent Storms
We know many across the state were hit hard by this weekend’s severe weather. Hail and high winds caused significant damage in some areas, and with more storms in the forecast, we’re hoping no more acres are affected. Like many of you, we have deep ties to farms and ranches throughout the region, and our thoughts are with everyone dealing with the aftermath.
 Historic Common Ground Summit Unites Industry to Secure America’s Agricultural Future
In the face of mounting challenges, 40 leaders from across the livestock industry convened at the Common Ground Summit April 23–25 at Denver’s Brown Palace Hotel. Their shared mission: to safeguard rural communities, ensure America’s food independence and preserve a way of life central to the nation’s agricultural heritage.
 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.
 2025 Waste Disposal Events
Monday June 30-Polson
Tuesday July 1-Hamilton
Wednesday July 2-Butte
Pre-registration Deadline June 23, 2025
September 23- Plentywood
September 24 - Glasgow
September 25 - Glendive
September 26 – Hardin
Pre-registration Deadline Sept. 16, 2025
BLM greenlights geothermal and pipeline projects to bolster U.S. energy independence
The Bureau of Land Management approved several major energy projects across the West—including a natural gas pipeline in Montana and three geothermal energy projects in Nevada—that will strengthen America’s energy supply and create jobs in local communities. These projects mark important progress in expanding both traditional and renewable energy infrastructure on public lands.
“Approving these projects reflects our commitment to strengthening America’s energy independence,” said BLM Acting Director Bill Groffy. “By responsibly developing energy resources on public lands, we’re helping to secure a reliable, diverse energy future for the nation while supporting jobs and local economies.”
 USDA Announces the Phased Reopening of Southern Ports for Livestock Trade
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced risk-based port re-openings for cattle, bison, and equines from Mexico beginning as early as July 7, 2025. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), following extensive collaboration between USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) experts and their counterparts in Mexico to increase New World Screwworm (NWS) surveillance, detection, and eradication efforts, are set to begin a phased reopening of the southern ports starting with Douglas, Arizona.
 FWP Public Notices & Opportunity for Comment
 Montana Snowpack Melts Rapidly During May, Resulting in Well Below Normal June 1 Snowpack
Summer in Montana is just around the corner. Springtime conditions felt almost summerlike with warmer than normal May temperatures. The seasonal transition spurred rapid snowmelt across the state during May. Snowpack across Montana is around 50%-70% of median, well below normal for June 1. This is a drastic drop from May 1 where snowpack was largely 75%-110% of median. Snowpack in the Bitterroot basin melted out especially rapidly, decreasing from around 75% of median on May 1 to around 25% of median on June 1. The Rocky Mountain Front snowpack remains well below normal, with all SNOTEL sites in the Sun-Teton-Maris basin melted out. One exception is the Bighorn Mountains, where June 1 snowpack in associated basins is 75%-120% of median.
Podcast Corner
AoR 159: Can Creative Arts Affect Public Perception about Rangelands? A Brief Musing by Tip
"Let me write the songs of a nation, and I care not who writes its laws." People think they are primarily 'thinking things', but this quote by a musician from ancient Athens speaks to the fact that most of our decision-making and the direction of our efforts in the world are shaped more by our affections.
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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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July
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16 - Eastern Heath Snail Workshop (Raynesford, MT)
For more information call (406) 566-2218
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17 - Healthy Soil Workshop (Wilsall, MT)
For details, click here
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MSU Field Days Schedule:
Wednesday, June 18 at 11 a.m. Southern Ag Research Center, Huntley
Wednesday, June 25 at 8:30 a.m. Central Ag Research Center, Moccasin
Thursday, June 26 at 10 a.m. Western Triangle Ag Research Center, Conrad
Wednesday, July 2 at 3 p.m. Northern Ag Research Center, Havre
Wednesday, July 9 at 8 a.m. Eastern Ag Research Center, Sidney
Tuesday, July 15 at 8 a.m. Post Farm, Bozeman
Thursday, July 17 at 9 a.m. Northwestern Ag Research Center, Creston
Thursday, Aug. 14 at 4:30 p.m. Western Ag Research Center, Corvallis
Thursday, Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. BART and Horticulture Farm, Bozeman
To register for any of the above field days, click here
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29 - MISC Meeting (Trout Creek, MT)
For details, click here
Contacts
Stacey Barta, State Coordinator for Rangelands
(406) 594-8481
SBarta@mt.gov
Rangeland Resources Committee:
Diane Ahlgren, Chair
John Hollenback, Vice Chair
Sigurd Jensen
Jim Anderson
Leah Lewis
Ron Devlin
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