2011 Montana GLCI Report

The Montana GLCI Funds Six Demonstration Projects for 2011

Seven demonstration projects were funded in 2011, four of which were educational workshops and seminars. The funded projects included the following:

• Judith Basin Conservation District: The annual Judith Basin Range School was held at the Geyser Community Hall in Geyser, Montana, and entitled “Time to Change”. The one-day school featured Chip Hines, a rancher from Colorado, Dr. Andrew "Andy" Roberts, Research Animal Scientist – Physiologist, Agricultural Research Service - Fort Keogh located at Miles City, Montana, and Dave Wichman, Superintendent and Agronomist, Central Agricultural Research Center located at Moccasin, Montana. 
• Deer Lodge Valley Conservation District: hosted the 35th annual Montana Range Days event, June 13th – June 15th, and boasted the first to host this event west of the Continental Divide with an attendance of 294, including all ages of youth from 4 to 19 years old, adults, judges, instructors, and area volunteers. Many first-time attendees from Deer Lodge and the surrounding areas, that had not been able to attend the Montana Range Days previously held in eastern Montana, were able to participate.
• Carter County Conservation District: This project has to two goals: 1) to improve soil health and 2) to consequently improve forage yields and livestock production per acre. The project outcome is to determine how mob-grazing affects soil carbon levels and soil food web activity over time. This project continues into 2012.
• Petroleum County Conservation District, along with neighboring conservation districts (Musselshell, Garfield and Fergus) hosted a two workshop series (one day each) entitled, “Continuing the Montana Legacy of the Family Ranch,” which focused on the entire operation from grazing issues and to economic considerations. The workshops were held in the Winnett area and welcomed over 100 participants between the two events.
• Madison Conservation District: This project, the Cameron Bench Grazing Land Renovation Trial, will focus on the renovation of introduced pastures (crested wheatgrass), which will evaluate three treatment options (chisel, harrow and Lawson aerator), and the results of seeding following treatment and impact of livestock and wildlife grazing on the treated plots. Due to wet conditions in the spring of 2011, this project was extended into 2012.
• MSU Teton County Extension Teton River Watershed Group (TRWG), Teton County Weed District and the Crawford Ranch hosted the one-day “Teton River Weed and Ranch Tour”, which featured the Boone and Crockett Ranch, at DuPuyer, with presentations on topics focusing on wildlife/livestock interactions, rangeland carrying capacities, and stream bank improvement enhancements.
• Valley County Conservation District Valley County MSU Extension, Glasgow: This project focuses on a renovation of an existing site, on approximately nine acres. The project would feature nine forages varieties for the 2011 season and ideally provide producers with a site that can be toured, make observations and comparisons, and also assist in selecting varieties with high productivity and ability to survive in a harsh environment. Due to wet conditions in the spring of 2011, this project was extended into 2012.

The Montana GLCI continues to support landowners across Montana using a proactive approach to address areas of concern on their ranches and with the sponsorship of local seminars and workshops. 

Text description of GLCI project distribution shown on map.

Grazing Lands Education

In December of 2004, the Montana GLCI rolled out a very ambitious education and awareness campaign, “Cowboy up with Conservation-it can save your grass.” Since the unveiling of the campaign at the Montana Stockgrowers annual convention in Billings, more than 1,000 conservation packets have been mailed. A packet can be requested on the Montana GLCI Web site or write to Montana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, PO Box 425, Bozeman, MT 59771-0425. In addition to the conservation packets, the education campaign has been featured and promoted through purchased air time with the Northern Broadcasting System in the form of radio. The radio ads include testimonials from ranchers and address “hot topic” issues in ranching and agriculture.

In 2010, the steering committee released an updated version of “A Stockman’s Grazing Record,” a hard copy (binder format), which sells for $20 and these hard copy record books are still available! The committee continues to work on an electronic version of the recordkeeping book for those ranchers who prefer to use up-to-date technology to keep their livestock records. 

The committee continues to support and provide funding to the State Winter Grazing Seminar held annually in January/February time frame and the Governor’s Range Tour held annually in September. These two events are co-sponsored by the Governor’s Rangeland Resources Executive Committee (RREC) and the local conservation districts.

GLCI Background

GLCI is a voluntary effort to enhance Montana’s 40 million acres of privately owned grazing land by increasing awareness and assisting with technical assistance at the grassroots level. Montana GLCI promotes partnerships, voluntary action, respect for private property rights, diversification and technical development and is dedicated to healthy, productive and sustainable grazing lands.

This effort is led by a steering committee comprised of representatives from organizations with a vested interest in grazing lands. Steering committee members include: Lon Reukauf, chairman of the committee, Montana Association of Grazing Districts; Dean Wang, vice chairman, Montana Stockgrowers Association; Russell Nemetz, immediate past-chairman, Montana media- Northern Broadcasting Systems; Robert E. Lee, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and member of the National GLCI Steering Committee; Aggie Helle, the sheep industry and a member of the National GLCI Steering Committee; John Hollenback, Governor’s Rangeland Resources Executive Committee; Terry Haughian, Northern Great Plains Section of the Society for Range Management; John Anderson, Montana Association of Conservation Districts; Chase Hibbard, International Mountain Section of the Society for Range Management; and Jim Willis, Montana Farm Bureau Federation. The steering committee is also comprised of ex-officio members, who provide technical guidance and includes representation from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Montana State University (MSU) Extension Service, MSU College of Agriculture, Montana Association of Grazing Districts, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Montana Department of Agriculture, and the Ag Research Station (ARS) in Miles City and the Sheep Institute.

Funding for Montana GLCI is through a contribution agreement with NRCS to support demonstration projects and educational programs throughout the state, in addition to providing range management technical assistance to ranchers in every county in Montana.

Montana GLCI had funded over 100 projects in 50 counties. Projects are focused on enhancing the economic, social and environmental sustainability of private grazing lands.

For more information about the Montana GLCI activities, please visit the Montana GLCI Web site or contact co-coordinators, Jon Siddoway, NRCS state rangeland management specialist at (406) 587-6790 or Carla Lawrence, dba Carla at the Ranch, (406) 962-3371.

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Last Modified: 01/19/2012