RANGELAND IMPROVEMENT 



Situation 



About 65 million acres in Montana is rangeland or 

 woodland that is suitable for grazing. This range is the 

 main resource for Montana's livestock production in- 

 dustry. Range also makes important contributions to the 

 state's well-being through water production, recreation 

 areas, and wildlife and fish habitat. 



It is estimated that 41 percent of Montana's rangeland 

 is in less than good condition (DNRC 1977). Figure 3 

 shows the condition of state and private rangeland in 

 Montana. Montana's rangelands are producing at only 59 

 percent of their potential (DNRC). Montana's rangeland 

 has historically been abused through overgrazing and 

 mismanagement. Range management specialists estimate 

 that range conditions may be reasonably increased by one 

 condition class. This increase, when converted to dollars, 

 could represent an increased income of $1 .40 per acre to 

 the rancher (Montana Committee for Rural Development 

 1979). Further range improvements will result in an in- 

 crease in production on range and pastures, reduction in 

 soil loss from wind and water erosion, water quality im- 

 provement, and wildlife habitat increase and improve- 

 ment. Examples of these range improvements are planned 

 grazing systems, rest rotation, deferred grazing, fencing, 

 development of improved varieties of grasses, reseeding, 

 water development, fertilizing, water retention practices, 

 and in some cases, weed, brush, and scrub timber con- 

 trol. 



From 1975 to 1977 approximately 887,144 acres of 

 rangeland were converted to cropland (DNRC 1977). 

 Often this land is best suited to rangeland uses and when 

 the protective grass cover is plowed under the land is sub- 

 ject to wind and water erosion. This "break-up" of 

 rangeland is contributing to Montana's erosion problems 

 and is damaging the rangeland resource. 



The 1977 Montana Rangeland Resources Coordina- 

 tion Act objectives are to promote the coordination of ac- 

 tivities intended to maintain and enhance the rangeland 

 resources of Montana. The Montana Rangeland 

 Resources Program of DNRC is carrying out these objec- 

 tives and will continue to do so. To assist in maintaining 

 range resources the 1979 Legislature provided $300,000 

 of Coal Severance Tax money through the Renewable 

 Resource Development Program to implement a pilot 

 Rangeland Improvement Loan Program (for 1981 figures 

 see Sources and Status of Assistance and Funding Needs 

 section). This program provides for interest free loans to 

 make rangeland improvements that would otherwise not 

 be made. Applications are made through local conserva- 

 tion districts and are based on long term conservation 

 plans. As of January 1 981 , 22 loans have been made total- 

 ing $299,770. 



Concerns 



SOURCE: Monldnd Rangeland Resource Pf(>(^t.irii 



FIGURE 3 



CONDITION OF STATE AND PRIVATE 



RANGELAND IN MONTANA IN 1976 



Clearly too much of Montana's rangeland is 

 overused and in less than good condition. Increas- 

 ed applications of range improvement practices 

 (managerial and structural) are needed. Also, 

 rangeland "break-up" is damaging Montana's 

 range resources and contributing to problems v^ith 

 soil erosion, v^/ater quality, and saline seep. 



Objectives 



A) To target areas for resource priorities the 

 CDD will prioritize all counties in Montana on the 

 basis of their potential for range improvement and 

 will direct funds and manpower on this basis. See 

 Part A, Objective 12 of the Work Plan. 



Rationale: The potential for range improve- 

 ment must be known in order to direct funds and 

 manpower to those areas that have the greatest 

 potential. 



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