Item No. 1 of 1

INVESTIGATOR: Nowlin, L.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
PETROLEUM COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
813 N BROADWAY STE B
WINNETT, MONTANA 59087

DEVELOPING BEEFMT: STRENGTHENING BEGINNING RANCHER OPERATIONS IN EASTERN MONTANA

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The Petroleum County Conservation District, along with our partners, the Winnett ACES (Agricultural Community Enhancement and Sustainability), Montana State University (MSU) Extension, and the MSU Dan Scott Ranch Management Program, will utilize a one-year simplified standard grant to develop a multi-year education program - BeefMT. The outcome for this project will be a fully developed beginning rancher education program which will be ready for implementation at the end of the grant period. This project will 1.) create an advisory committee that will: 2.) guide curriculum development and 3.) develop an action plan for implementation of BeefMT. The Advisory Committee will consist of agriculture industry, education, non-governmental organization, and individual ranch representatives. Beginning ranchers will be part of the Advisory Committee. BeefMT will follow a cohort model, designed for a consistent group of participants to complete the program over multiple years. The developed BeefMT curriculum will address areas of need including transition planning, range management, livestock nutrition, financial planning, ag policy, marketing, and other topics identified during the planning process. The BeefMT program will be designed to utilize multiple delivery methods (online, in-class, on-the-ground), which will provide beginning ranchers with knowledge, resources, and a support network to help them make decisions that further their operations' ecological, economical, and social sustainability. BeefMT will be a long-lasting educational program, where many cohorts of beginning ranchers can build knowledge and skills that will benefit their individual operations, their home community, and the Montana and U.S. cattle industry as a whole.

OBJECTIVES: Our long-term goal is to develop a multi-year education program for beginning ranchers (BeefMT), which will utilize multiple delivery methods (online, in-class, on-the-ground), providing beginning ranchers with knowledge, resources, and a support network to help them make decisions that further their operations' ecological, economical, and social sustainability.Objectives:1. Establish an advisory committee representing a broad range of partnerships: agencies, non-governmental organizations, University educators, community-based collaboratives, and beginning and experienced beef producers to guide the future direction of BeefMT.2. Develop a comprehensive, multi-year curriculum for beginning ranchers, which provides knowledge and resources in the areas of transition planning, range management, land acquisition, livestock nutrition, financial planning, ag policy, and marketing.3. Determine the most appropriate approach for implementing BeefMTto accommodate our large region and create an accessible program for all participants.4. During the one-year simplified grant period, submit a proposal for funding to fully implement the developed BeefMT program.