Progress report for WPDP24-019
Project Information
Approximately 70 percent of Montana is made up of rangeland and pasturelands, making grazing lands Montana's largest natural resource; of this 70 percent more than 40 million acres are privately-owned grazing lands. To help protect and promote the importance of this resource, the Rangeland Resource Program (RRP) was created by the Montana Legislature in 1979. Housed within the Conservation and Resource Development Division at the Montana Department of Natural Resources, the mission of the RRP is to assure that sustainable rangelands support people, wildlife, recreation, clean water, and the natural scenic beauty of Montana.
The RRP has a multifaceted purpose which includes advocating for the balanced use of rangeland resources and the promotion of responsible rangeland stewardship; one of the educational opportunities the RRP provides to a diverse audience is the 406 Grazing Academy and 406 Grazing Academy: The Next Bite, (TNB) a level two course for past participants. The 406 is a three-day hands-on learning experience followed up with an optional ranch visit that provides attendees the opportunity to learn about sustainable grazing management techniques and practices specific to their land/operation. TNB, a higher level, deep-dive has been requested by participants for a few years; due to the way that funding was distributed after the SARE grant was awarded, TNB is coming to fruition in 2025. Since its inception in 2021, 83 ranch managers, producers, and various professionals serving in the agriculture industry have attended the 406GA and increased their knowledge of grazing practices for livestock and wildlife, plant identification, soil health, invasive plant management, and rangeland monitoring techniques.
The objectives and curricula of the 406 Grazing Academy and 406 Grazing Academy: The Next Bite align perfectly with the SARE Grant. Both learning opportunities teach attendees about the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable agriculture. 406GA and TNB are multi-organizational efforts that bring together respected professionals and ranchers that are well-known as innovators in conservation and sustainable agriculture practices to educate others about the importance of sustainably grazed and managed rangelands. In addition to the in-class sessions, attendees also spend time at various field sites performing hands-on rangeland monitoring techniques, improving their plant identification skills, and learning about soils. The teaching teams of 406GA and TNB are comprised of university faculty, experienced agency personnel, and innovative local producers; all of which bring varied knowledge and experience to share with attendees. The 406 academies provide interfacing opportunities for networking, relationship building and collaboration on a grassroots level. Due to the structure of the curricula and teaching team, attendees are encouraged to build relationships and collaborative networking opportunities with teaching staff during the hands-on field portions of the academies and through the optional ranch visits that can be scheduled in the fall after courses are completed.
There has not been any activity on this project due to timing of funding availability. Grant funds were allocated after the 406 Grazing Academy took place last year. To use expend allocated grant funds, SARE personnel was contacted, and approval was granted to hose two 406 Grazing Academies planned to take place in 2025 and one in 2026.
The 406 Grazing Academy is an annual 3-day event that changes location yearly. In 2023 the Academy was held in Anaconda and in 2024 the 406 will be held in Miles City. Online registration occurs from March-May and the Academy takes place in June. Optional site visits occur June-July.
Cooperators
- - Producer
Education
No activity due to timing of funding availability. There will be two Grazing Academies in 2025 to fulfill set requirements of this project proposal.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
No activity due to timing of funding availability.
No activity due to timing of funding availability.
Project Outcomes
No activity on this grant due to timing of fundability. Grant funds were awarded after the event had taken place of the current award year. Do to this, approval was gained from SARE personnel to host two Grazing Academies in 2025 to reach double the number of producers. The initial course will take place June and the level 2 course will take place in August. Level 2 has the capacity to elevate previous attendees knowledge and understanding of concepts learned and how to successfully apply those theories.
There are many outcomes of the 406 Grazing Academy and the 406 Grazing Academy: The Next Bite these include outcomes for attendees and the environment:
Attendees:
- Increased knowledge of sustainable grazing practices,
- Increased understanding of how to use grazing as a tool for invasive plant management,
- Increased knowledge of federal grazing rules and regulations,
- Increased knowledge on how to set up monitoring photo points and record keeping,
- Increased knowledge of wildlife and livestock interactions and how to manage for those,
- Increased understanding of why stock water developments, riparian fencing, and mineral placement are essential for healthy streams and rivers,
- Hands-on experience using online tools including Soil Survey and the Rangeland Analysis Platform,
- Hands-on experience conducting monitoring practices with instructor guidance at selected field sites and if chosen, at site specific ranch visits,
- Relationship building and networking with experienced guest speaker ranchers, state and federal agency personnel, university and Extension professors and staff.
Environment:
- Lands that are more sustainably used with conservation and regenerative management practices implemented,
- Grazing used as a tool to benefit not only livestock for economic purposes, but wildlife and fisheries for ecological and recreational usage,
- Fencing used as a tool to mitigate and reduce potential degradation of streams and rivers,
- Improved recreational usage and value for sustainably managed streams and rivers,
- Increased carbon cycling ability of lands managed sustainably by 406 Academy graduates.