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Message from the State Conservationist
Supporting urban agriculture is a priority for the administration, USDA, and NRCS. Here in Montana, a primarily rural state, “urban agriculture” doesn’t always resonate with our customers, partners, or employees. “Community agriculture” is a term more representative of the operations across the state managing their farms and ranches – of all sizes – to provide food and/or fiber products to their neighbors, local communities, and cities across Montana.
To better coordinate our efforts to meet the needs of community agriculture producers, NRCS Montana has developed a community agriculture strategic plan. I am pleased to announce this plan is finalized and you can read it on our website at www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov under Community Agriculture.
We recognize that community agriculture producers can face some unique challenges when it comes to managing their natural resources. In some cases, NRCS staff are also experiencing new challenges when working to apply some of our traditional conservation practices to non-traditional operations. Continual collaboration with producers and partners will be key to identifying and evaluating those practices that support improved soil health and other natural resources on community ag operations. These relationships will also help us to know where adaptations to conservation practices may need to be elevated to make their implementation possible.
As part of the community agriculture plan, we will be hiring a community agriculture specialist. Until that position is filled, please contact Kyle Tackett, ASTC-Partnerships, with any questions or for more information.
I look forward to seeing results from this concerted effort as we all work together to enhance our local food systems.
I also want to take a moment to let you all know that the masking requirements at many of our local service centers have been relaxed according to CDC guidance. Local COVID-19 community levels are assessed weekly. Only offices in counties with HIGH community levels require employees and customers to wear face coverings and require visitors to call ahead for appointments. All other offices are open to visitors and do not require masks. If you have questions, please contact your local USDA Service Center.
Sincerely,
Tom Watson
NRCS State Conservationist
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 The Southwest Montana Sagebrush Partnership (SMSP) was created in 2018. This group is a diverse partnership with a mutual interest of delivering conservation in the sagebrush biome of Southwest Montana in a coordinated, efficient manner. The partner list is long but includes NRCS and other federal agencies, ranchers and small business owners, the State of Montana, local conservation districts, and non-governmental organizations. The work of the partnership aligns with the WLFW Sagebrush Biome Framework Conservation Actions of mesic restoration, annual grass invasion, woodland expansion, and land use conversion while also tackling big game migration routes through conservation easements and fence modifications. The coordinator for the group is an employee of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) with support from the Bureau of Land Management, Intermountain West Joint Venture, NRCS, and others. NRCS Montana worked with TNC to develop an agreement in 2020 with the following objectives:
- Increase the pace and scale of conservation delivery;
- Stimulate and support targeted science efforts to guide conservation actions; and
- Enhance communication methods to improve public understanding and support.
The SMSP Coordinator engages with NRCS offices in Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP) development and implementation, playing a key role in ensuring efficient cross boundary implementation in a mixed ownership landscape in order to maximize impact. An exciting and innovative approach is also the focus on youth employment opportunities and job creation through conservation.
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Hello, I am Justin Trout the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Coordinator. I am a graduate of Chadron State College with a degree in rangeland management. I started with NRCS in 2012 as a soil conservation technician in Manhattan, Kansas. Since then, I have worked in Nebraska as a civil engineering technician, South Dakota as a soil conservationist, and most recently came from northwest Iowa where I was a district conservationist. When not at work, I am most likely training our bird dogs or spending time with my wife Maija out hiking, fishing, backpacking, hunting, or any of the other countless outdoor activities Montana has to offer.
I look forward to jumping right into the many great partnership projects already ongoing here in Montana and developing new projects. There are great opportunities for NRCS and the many effective organizations across the state that are working toward similar goals to support our local communities through conservation. Contact me at justin.trout@usda.gov.
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Marni Thompson is NRCS’s new State Soil Health Specialist. Marni will be coordinating many of the agency’s efforts outlined in the Soil Health Strategic Action Plan. This includes networking and collaborating with partners that have similar goals, supporting the work of our field offices, and advancing education and outreach activities. Message from Marni:
I am super excited to be able to concentrate on soil health in Montana. Over my career, I have seen the unlimited opportunities to improve Montana soils – and ultimately more resilient farming and ranching communities.
I grew up on a ranch near Townsend. After graduation from Montana State with a range management degree in 1997 (Go Bobcats!), I landed my first job with the NRCS as a soil conservationist in Miles City. I worked in the Sheridan field office for 12 years, then worked in the Great Falls area office for 11 years where I built my knowledge of the agency, our partners, and natural resources. While in Sheridan, I watched Ray Archuleta’s slake test video. From then on I was hooked on soil health and haven’t looked back. My husband and three children have been participating in our no-till garden for the last 10 years, which is a fun learning experiment.
Education of the soil health principles is very important. Understanding how soils function can help when we make management changes that are a paradigm shift. Toward that end, I am happy to help field offices and partners find speakers for workshops and field days that fit their local needs. I have access to the rainfall simulator, which is a great visual demonstration that can be hauled anywhere in the field. Farmers and ranchers in Montana are making some huge management changes that have improved their soils. I am also happy to share these case studies with groups to showcase the opportunities that exist to improve Montana soils. Please contact me for any assistance you need in regards to soil health at marni.thompson@usda.gov.
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From September 2021 through July 2022, the Montana Association of Conservation Districts, Montana Watershed Coordination Council and partners are reaching out across the state to ask: What more might be done to better support farmers and ranchers in managing soils in Montana?
The purpose is to increase the pace and scale at which land stewards implement voluntary practices and systems to maintain and improve soil health, and thereby the long term economic and ecological vitality of agriculture in Montana. In August of 2022 a report will be shared on what was learned along with any recommendations that seem to emerge. All responses will be kept confidential and anonymous.
Producers can share their opinions and expert insight by completing an online survey. In addition, regional focus group meetings will discuss how to support those on the land in managing their soils. Each meeting will feature local producers and provide the opportunity for all attending to voice their ideas. Each of the following meetings will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- March 16 in Great Falls at the Holiday Village Mall conference room
- March 17 in Glasgow at the Valley County Courthouse
- March 23 in Miles City at Miles Community College, room 106
- April 14 in Kalispell at ImagineIF Library
- April 15 in Dillon at the Armory
- April 20 in Livingston at the Livingston Food Resource Center
- May 26 virtual meeting via Zoom
For more information, to RSVP for the regional focus-group meetings, or to fill out the on-line survey, please visit the Montana Soil Outreach website at montanasoiloutreach.macdnet.org.
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Emily Stifler Wolfe, a freelance reporter wrote this article and the others in the series, focusing on regenerative ag in Montana. One small piece of the series highlights NRCS assistance and support of soil health in the state.
“In the Judith Basin, the Myllymaki family has gone all in on regenerative farming techniques aimed at building the health of the soil that sustains them. A national agency born of the Dust Bowl helped them get started and is now seeding local initiatives to bring a more diverse swath of local knowledge into the conservation conversation.” Read the full story.
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The Montana State Data Insight Report - FY 2020 report contains state-specific analyses conducted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Resource Inventory and Assessment Division (RIAD), Soil Survey and Resource Assessment (SSRA). This report provides data insights and demonstrates tools to report conservation accomplishments, analyze conservation gaps and opportunities, and plan future conservation investments. Some highlights from the report:
Agricultural Operations and Land Use Trends in Montana
Between 1997 and 2017, the number of farms in Montana decreased, the amount of land in farms decreased, and average farm size increased.
Between the 1992 and 2017 NRI Assessments, Montana saw substantial land use change on private lands. The largest land use change on non-federal rural land was conversion from CRP to cropland followed most closely by cropland to pasture.
Only one percent of non-federal rural lands qualify as prime farmland in Montana. Montana saw a net loss of prime farmland between 1992 and 2017 of 5.5% which is higher than the national average of 3.3%. That small loss was primarily due to conversion of prime cropland to developed land and prime pasture to federal land.
Conservation Implementation Trends in Montana According to RCA Reports, 2014-2020
Land unit acres (LUA) treated by conservation practices each fiscal year (FY) in Montana substantially increases from FY 2019 to FY 2020. From FY 2015 to FY 2019, LUA treated for Cropland Soil Quality and Cropland Soil Health & Sustainability declined when not considering the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), but LUA for both measures increased in FY 2020. Similarly, LUA treated for Forest Land Conservation and Grazing Land Conservation declined from FY 2014 to FY 2019 then increased substantially in FY 2020. LUA treated for Fish & Wildlife Habitat decreased from FY 2014 to FY 2016 but have increased since.
Water Quality on Cropland
The report analyzed applied conservation practices on cultivated cropland relative to inherent soil vulnerabilities to sediment and nutrient loss. Results showed acres of cultivated cropland most vulnerable to sediment and nutrient loss were prioritized for treatment. Montana contains approximately 17,306,700 acres of cultivated cropland, of which 57% were identified as Priority 1 (Highly vulnerable to sediment and nutrient loss) for surface loss. Montana-NRCS has worked with producers to treat 2,662,800 acres of cultivated cropland for surface loss since 2005, of which 71% were Priority 1.
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The Bureau of Reclamation has published a funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Drought Response Program’s Drought Contingency Planning Grants. This funding opportunity supports the development and update of drought contingency plans. Through this funding opportunity, Reclamation provides financial assistance for planning that, when implemented, will increase water reliability and improve water management through the use of expanded technologies and improved modeling capabilities. Applicants may request up to $200,000 for plans to be completed within two years. Generally, a 50 percent minimum recipient cost-share is required.
The funding opportunity is available on grants.gov by searching for opportunity number R22AS00178. Applications are due by April 14, 2022, at 4 pm MDT.
The Bureau of Reclamation hosted a webinar on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at 2 pm MST to discuss eligible applicants, program requirements, and the evaluation criteria for the Drought Contingency Planning Grants funding opportunity. Click here to watch a recording of the live event.
If you have questions regarding applicant and project eligibility, program requirements, or the evaluation criteria, click here and select Drought Contingency Inquiry/Technical Consultation Inquiry to schedule a time to talk with the program coordinators.
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New Employees
- Gustavo Diaz, Soil Conservationist, Havre Field Office
- Marji Patz, Ecological Data Quality Specialist, Major Land Resource Office
- Justin Trout, Regional Conservation Partnership Program Coordinator, Bozeman State Office
New Partner Employees
- Alison Mann, Big Sky Watershed Corps, Bridger Plant Materials Center
- Noah Starling, Pheasants Forever Range Conservationist, Billings Field Office
- Cole Stumpf, Pheasants Forever Range Conservationist, Hysham Field Office
- Autumn Holzgen, Missouri River Watershed Program Coordinator, Great Falls Area Office
- Emma Link, NACD Resource Technician, Great Falls Field Office
Within Agency Changes
- Michelle Gorder, Soil Conservationist, Baker Field Office to Supervisory District Conservationist
Losses
- Sehba Faheem, Agricultural Engineer, Bozeman Area Office
- Greg Horton, National Wild Turkey Federation Forester, Bozeman Area Office
- Chuck Roloff, District Conservationist, Big Timber Field Office
- Rachel Schlais, Agricultural Engineer, Havre Field Office
- Grant Dinehart, Soil Conservationist, Chinook Field Office
- Tammy Olson, Soil Conservationist, Culbertson Field Office
- Kathy Stringer, Program Assistant, Culbertson Field Office
- Nathan Rindlisbaker, Soil Conservationist, Glendive Field Office
- Stephanie Baker, Soil Conservation Technician, Broadus Field Office
- Elizabeth Emeline, American Bird Conservancy, Broadus Field Office
- Betsy French, Soil Conservationist, Whitehall Field Office
- Cody Folk, Soil Scientist, Dillon MLRA Soil Survey Office
- Lianne Evans, Civil Engineer, Dillon Field Office
- Craig Biggart, Soil Conservationist, Great Falls Field Office
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