Gayle Norman Barry has been selected as the state conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Montana. Barry began serving as the temporary, acting state conservationist in July. She is responsible for NRCS operations that support private land managers statewide. These duties include the implementation of voluntary conservation through technical and financial assistance, the Natural Resources Inventory, water supply forecasting, soil survey mapping, and the Plant Materials Center in Bridger.

“I am committed to leading NRCS in the state with a Montana spirit of adventure, purpose, innovation, and community to best support ag producers and conservation partners,” said Barry. “NRCS has the important role of providing free, science-based conservation assistance to farmers, ranchers, and foresters that work to care for the natural resources our rural economy is based on.”

Most recently, Barry has served as the Western Conservation Liaison for NRCS’s Western Regional Office. She has held senior leadership roles with NRCS since 2012. Her leadership has spanned major conservation initiatives, including overseeing implementation of the largest-ever investment in private working lands conservation—through NRCS voluntary programs. As a lifelong Bobcat, she holds a degree from Montana State University and brings a passion for conservation and the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and tribal nations that care for the land, rooted in her family’s small grain and cattle ranch in Springhill, Montana. 

Barry may be reached at the NRCS state office in Bozeman at 406-587-6811.

More Information

To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center.  Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today. 

For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat.  NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.