EASTERN MONTANA RANCHERS CONSERVE SOIL, PRODUCE BEEF 



Hundreds of ranchers in Eastern Montana have been quietly going 

 about the business of making sure there's beef for the table, and at 

 reasonable prices. 



With rising costs for everything the rancher must buy and with se- 

 vere weather conditions at times, the risks become very high. To meet 

 the meat demands of the public, State Conservationist A. B. Linford, 

 said that each rancher must avail himself of all possible technology 

 and programs. One of his major concerns is in maintaining his vegeta- 

 tion and feed supply. 



Ranchers in 39 counties in the eastern part of the state have been 

 steadily pinning down land likely to blow, with thick, growing, beef 

 producing grass under the SCS Great Plains Conservation Program. The 

 work done by ranchers in the program has greatly reduced water pollu- 

 tion and sediment production. It has improved the quality of water 

 in many Montana streams . 



Land treated in the Great Plains Program totals about one-sixth of 

 all privately owned land in the state. "That's a lot of land, even 

 in a state as big as ours", Linford said. 



Over $1,100,000 was contracted by SCS with Montana landowners with- 

 in the past 12 months in the program. The program will operate at 

 about the same level in the coming year. 



