PANEL DISCUSSION 



^K)NTANA RANGELAND RESOURCE PROGRAM 



Parham T. Hacker 



I might give you just a little backgroxmd on the Montana Range land Re- 

 source Program. Since rangeland is the state's principal renewable resource, 

 the emphasis on this program is statewide. 



In 1969, the supervisors in Hill County felt the rangeland in their 

 county was in bad shape. After looking aroiind the state, they found that 

 a lot of the range in the state was also in rather poor condition. Think- 

 ing that something should be done, they suggested that the State Soil Con- 

 servation Committee study the situation. In June of I969 at a regular me- 

 eting of the State Soil Conservation Committee it was decided that a state 

 rangeland improvement program be submitted to the Governor for possible 

 legislative action. Mr. Pete Jackson, who is here with us today, was sel- 

 ected to appoint a committee and assemble a draft of the proposed rangeland 

 program . 



The proposed program was written into the Montana Rangeland Resource 

 Program which we often hear of as "Jackson's Yellow Rangeland Book." The 

 plan was approved by the Governor and subsequently funded by the legislature 

 on an administrative level. 



This was essentially the beginning of the Rangeland Resource Program, 

 and the Hill County Conservation District supervisors are to be commended 

 for instituting this important project. 



When the first plan was written, certain goals were established, and 

 projections were made for continued improvement in range resources. It is 

 gratifying to note that despite market fluctuations, increased cattle num- 

 bers and pressures from high grain prices, the original goals are being 

 met very well. We are somewhat concerned with the number of acres being 

 plowed up now and hope that we will not be faced with a big range reseed- 

 ing program in a few years. The fact that the goals and objectives are 

 being met would indicate that this valuable segment of the state's agri- 

 culture is very stable and being well-maintained. 



The legislature assigned the program to the Department of Natural Re- 

 sources and Conservation. Working through the conservation district, a 



96 



