NEW MONTANA MAGAZINE TARGETS NEW, SMALL ACRE LANDOWNERS

May 2, 2008

For More Information:
Robert Moler, 406-587-6842

Bozeman -- Montana is experiencing rapid changes in land ownership and a new magazine, Big Sky Small Acres, is reaching out to owners of sub-divided lands to address natural resources conservation issues.

"Thousands of acres of former ranch, farm and wild lands are being subdivided into small acreage parcels across Montana," said Dave White, State Conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). "As this shift in land use occurs, the associated resource concerns, such as the spread of noxious weeds and impacts to water quality, continue to grow. The Big Sky Small Acres magazine is designed to provide information to landowners about these resource concerns."

The first editions of Big Sky Small Acres magazine contained articles on winterizing irrigation systems, managing weeds, tips for buying a horse, prescribed burning, and tips for pasture management. Future issues will address topics related to fighting weeds, protecting soil, air, and water quality, wildlife, and just simply living in Montana.

"The magazine is the flagship publication in a comprehensive, state-wide campaign to educate small acre landowners, owning from 1 to 300 acres, on conservation strategies for their properties," said David Martin, interim coordinator for Big Sky Small Acres (BSSA). "Our mission is to connect landowners to resources and help people manage their lands in a sustainable manner."

BSSA is a multi-agency team representing the Montana State University (MSU) Extension Service, Montana Conservation Districts, the NRCS, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and Montana Weed Districts. So far, two editions of the magazine have been printed and distributed. These first two magazines, funded by the MSU Extension Service, were part of a pilot phase of the magazine and offered free to the public. The BSSA group hopes to develop the magazine into a subscription-based, quarterly publication.

For more information about BSSA or the Big Sky Small Acres magazine, please contact David Martin at 444-4253.

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