With regard to incentives that relate to agricultvire , this Department 

 has a number of innovative programs I'll explain briefly. 



(1) The Rangeland Resource Program - the goals are to increase an a- 

 wareness of the value of the resource and to expand its productivity for a 

 variety of uses through improvement measures voluntarily undertaken. 



(2) The Renewable Resource Development Program - 2^ of the coal sev- 

 erance tax has been earmarked for low interest loans of up to $100,000 to 

 Montana farmers and ranchers for worthwhile projects to develop or preserve 

 land, water, timber, wildlife, or other renewable resources. Twenty-two ap- 

 plications, which request a total of well over $1 million, are now being 

 processed. Most of these involve sprinkler irrigation, and preference is 

 being accorded to water development proposals. However, stockwater reser- 

 voirs, reseeding, weed and brush control, fencing, and other rangeland im- 

 provements are eligible for this type of financial assistance. 



(5) The Technical Assistance Program - Under this program prefeasibil- 

 ity studies are being made of water development projects being considered 

 by groups or individuals. The product is a report, assessing such matters 

 as development alternatives, possible sources of funding, the project's en- 

 gineering and economic feasibility, and its probable environmental impacts. 

 Although only water development projects are eligible, the project may be for 

 any one or a combination of beneficial uses, and livestock water, along with 

 domestic supplies and irrigation, have been receiving the most attention. 



(4) The High Plains Weather Modification Research Program - Part of 

 this research is directed toward increasing the yield and protein content of 

 native range grasses, prolonging the growing season, and determining the 

 consequences of an altered moisture regime on grassland production, stability 

 and composition. 



(5) Water Reservation Program - The Department has contracted with a 

 Montana consulting firm to provide direct assistance to conservation districts 

 wanting to secure water for futiore agricultioral uses under the Montana Water 

 Use Act. 



(6) The Department has provided a range management specialist, Charles 

 Hitch, to work with ranchers in their involvement with EIS's being done by 

 BLM on grazing districts. 



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