Montana NRCS - Helping Livestock Producers

NRCS in Montana provides technical and financial assistance toward our goal to help producers on private grazing lands become better managers of the animals they control. We do and will continue to provide the education, expertise and time to help producers improve the management of their grazing lands and improve their livestock’s productivity.

Non-Federal Grazing Land - In Montana 66% of the non-federal land is rangeland, pastureland and grazed forestland. Rangeland comprises 84% of the non-federal grazing land in the state. NRCS can play a significant role to improve the management of this land. We are authorized by congress to deliver technical assistance. Conservation plans are our mechanism to do that.

Grazing Plans – We offer programs providing technical assistance and funding opportunities for rangelands grazing management and developing grazing plans. We emphasize to producers the importance of developing and maintaining grazing plans. Grazing plans don’t have to be extremely complex.

The goals of a grazing plan include:
    proper timing of grazing
    proper intensity of grazing
    maintenance of stubble height after grazing of key forage
    duration of the grazing period
    minimizing grazing re-growth

These goals can include increasing the percent composition by weight of key forage grasses, decreasing or minimizing bare ground, improving forage quality and improving rangeland health. Meeting those goals relates directly to the ecological processes and how well they are functioning on a ranch. That includes energy flow, nutrient cycling and water cycling that can be evaluated with the rangeland health assessment that NRCS has been using for the past decade during the inventory process.

Conservation Practices – There are many conservation practices applicable to livestock operations. Conservation practices are found in our Field Office Technical Guides. In the last five years $73.6 million has been allocated to Montana producers for conservation treatments. Of that $73.6 million, 65% was used to address livestock concerns.

Conservation practices implemented and contracted include:
    Fencing - 1,829
    Grazing land mechanical treatment – 69
    Pasture and hay planting – 743
    Pest management – 1,765
    Pipeline – 1,771
    Prescribed Grazing
    Range Planting – 146
    Spring development – 298
    Water well – 647
    Watering facilities – 2,064

Conservation programs for which livestock producers may be eligible:

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) – EQIP provides payments for facilitating conservation practices and prescribed grazing. In 2009, Montana received $21.1 million in EQIP funding, and signed 637 EQIP contracts on about 900,000 acres. Of the 637 EQIP contracts, 443 were livestock related. EQIP funding can be used to restructure feedlots for higher production; redirect feedlot run-off into vegetative treatment areas and evaporative or irrigation basins; move feedlots out of stream corridors that are often susceptible to flooding that can lead to fence and infrastructure loss; and develop manure handling systems and schedules that can turn waste into a fertilizer offset.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) – Rangeland specialists are also involved with resolving livestock/wildlife conflicts and improving habitat for wildlife. The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program was continued with changes made in the definition of eligible land. Eligible land for WHIP includes private agricultural land, non-industrial private forest land, and Tribal land. The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes WHIP payments to be made to landowners to develop other types of wildlife habitat, including habitat developed on pivot corners and irregular areas. The total of WHIP funds available for use in long-term agreements to protect and restore plant and animal habitat is increased from 15% to 25%.

Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) – The 2008 Farm Bill changed the process for determining easement value in the Wetland Reserve Program. The program offers three enrollment options:
1. "Permanent Easement" is a conservation easement in perpetuity. USDA pays 100 percent of the easement value and up to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
2. "30-year Easement" is an easement that expires after 30 years. USDA pays up to 75 percent of the easement value and up to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
3. "Restoration Cost Share Agreement" is an agreement to restore or enhance the wetland functions and values without placing an easement on the enrolled acres. USDA pays up to 75 percent of the restoration costs.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) - The new Conservation Stewardship Program replaces the past Conservation Security Program. This is a major NRCS program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities and improving, maintaining and managing existing conservation practices. This program provides equitable access to all producers, regardless of operation size, crops produced or geographic location.

Last Modified: 10/27/2009