Ranchers Make NRCS's Sage Grouse Initiative Successful

Since 2011, Phillips and Valley County ranchers have participated in the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) as well as implementing other actions both individually and together as a community to improve sage grouse habitat. By doing so, they have made improvements on their ranches, helped out wildlife and contributed to the historic decision by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to not list the Greater Sage-grouse as an endangered species.

Over 1,100 ranchers across the West have voluntarily signed up for the Sage Grouse Initiative and implemented conservation plans on 4.4 million acres. As ranchers develop conservation plans for their operation, they find that sage grouse conservation can be a win-win situation where both wildlife and agriculture benefit. In Montana, SGI is used to maintain large and intact rangelands by collaborating with producers to design grazing management plans, seed marginal cropland back to native grasses, mark fences to reduce sage grouse collisions, manage noxious weeds and restore wet meadow habitats.

Despite unprecedented success thus far, there is still more work to be done to conserve sage-brush habitat. The US Department of Agriculture recently reaffirmed their commitment to sage grouse conservation by setting aside over $200 million for implementation of the Sage Grouse Initiative through 2018. This funding helps NRCS continue to support ranchers and implement conservation plans that benefit agriculture and wildlife across Montana. NRCS also continues their proud partnership with other organizations such as conservation districts, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Pheasants Forever who have contributed funding and support for SGI since 2011.

Montana ranchers in sage grouse country can gain long term security for their operations simply by participating in the Sage Grouse Initiative. An NRCS Conservation Plan developed to SGI standards provides the rancher with 30 years of Endangered Species Act (ESA) predictability from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Predictability means that participating ranchers can continue to implement conservation practices in their conservation plan even if sage grouse are considered for listing or listed as an endangered species in the future.

Any private land manager can develop a Sage Grouse Initiative conservation plan by contacting local range conservationists Kelsey Molloy in Malta and John Fahlgren in Glasgow. They will help record rangeland conditions, measure rangeland productivity, identify threats to sage grouse, and diagnose resource concerns that affect sustainability of the ranching operation and its natural resources. Ranchers and range conservationists will then analyze this information and collaboratively develop management alternatives to address the identified resource concerns. Alternatives may include a grazing system, water developments, fence marking or other practices. All conservation practice are chosen by the rancher and conservationist to meet a rancher’s management goals and adhere to the Sage Grouse Initiative standards so ranchers receive predictability at the end of the process. After a rancher has developed a conservation plan, they can apply for financial assistance through NRCS to implement the plan.

Range conservationists work to assist private land managers but may work with the Bureau of Land Management or Montana State Lands to develop a conservation plan that is compatible across the whole operation. Many ranchers already use a grazing system and keep their rangeland in good condition so a conservation plan may simply document current management and provide the rancher with ESA predictability.

To find out how you can participate in the Sage Grouse Initiative, contact these NRCS staff members and partners: Shilo Messerly or Kelsey Molloy for Phillips and Blaine County (654-1334) and Tracy Cumber or John Fahlgren (228-4321) for Valley County.