fees, but I have no monetairy value to assign to the elation experienced as 

 one sees a bevy of sharp-tailed grouse take wing. I could talk about the 

 millions of dollars spent by tourists in Montana in the proportion which 

 could be credited to rangeland, but I have no number to describe the way of 

 solitary journey into vastness that can put a man's problems into perspec- 

 tive. In discussing rangeland as a watershed, I could speak of the amounts 

 provided in the uses to which that water is put, or I could instead attempt 

 to quantify the savings realized because the intensity of flooding is les- 

 sened, or because city water systems are not overtaxed. But I have no dol- 

 lar sign to measiore the way a clear, winding stream turns pebbles into gem- 

 stones. 



Its economic importance, its social and cultural significance, its ex- 

 panse and its majesty prove that rangeland is one of Montana's chief renew- 

 able resources. 



Nonetheless in 1973» less than one-third of Montana's rangeland was 

 producing up to its potential. Another 20 percent was classified as being 

 in good condition — productive but falling short of the excellent category. 

 That means that nearly half of the rangeland, over 30 million acres, was in 

 only poor or fair condition. The 1976 Soil Conservation Service figures in- 

 dicate that the less than good categories have been reduced to 46 percent, 

 but our problems remain large. With $2.50 accruing from each acre improved 

 from fair to good condition, land treatment of the 26 billion acres of fair 

 and poor condition range could potentially yield 60 million dollars. 



The problems connected to the condition of rangeland continue^, You are 

 more far aware of them than I. Soil erosion, gullying, water pollution, loss 

 of wildlife habitat, saline seep, the intrusion of noxious weeds and other 

 undesirable plants and species resulting in reduced carrying capacity and 

 lower incomes for ranchers, even leading to the failure of individual units. 



The economic plight of the rancher today forebodes worsening conditions 

 for the rangeland resource. No rancher is going to be sympathetic to long- 

 term range management when prices of cattle keep him worried about day-to-day 

 survival. Low cattle prices have emptied feed lots, and cattle have been 

 held over instead of sold. Holdover stock often times means the utilization 

 of all available range, precluding use of a rotation system, and often that 



