July 10 , 2007
Congratulations to Montana-based Beartooth Capital Partners, LLC and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for their successful CIG grants! (see announcement below)
Conservation Innovation Grant Awards Announced
USDA has announced the award of nearly $20 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to 36 states to fund 51 projects designed to develop and refine cutting-edge technologies and approaches that can help producers maintain viable agricultural operations. Approved projects address traditional natural resource issues concerning agriculture such as water quantity, water quality improvement, livestock nutrient management, grazing lands and forest health, and soil resource management. Approved projects also address emerging natural resource issues including agricultural air emissions, energy conservation and market-based approaches to conservation. Information on the approved projects is available online from USDA.
Additional information about CIG, including summaries of approved projects, is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig. A chart for a listing of FY 2007 CIG projects (PDF) can be found at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/2007awards.html .
Posted: July 2, 2007
Other news…
Organic Farmers Share Weed Management Strategies (from ATTRA News)
Organic farmers Bob Quinn and Thad Willis highlighted their weed management strategies at a field day on Millennial Farms, located southeast of Big Sandy, Montana, reports The Prairie Star. The dryland farm produces wheat, Kamut, camelina, alfalfa hay, clover, peas, lentils, tomatoes and vegetables in a four-year rotation. Quinn and Willis described weed management strategies such as mowing, vinegar spray, and clover seeding. They also discussed on-farm trials of nitrogen-fixing cover crops, and described how researchers are studying the vegetable production capabilities of salt seeps in fields. The field day was one of a series of farm tours sponsored by Montana's Alternative Energy Resources Organization, and was co-sponsored by the National Center for Appropriate Technology.
Related ATTRA Publication: Principles of Sustainable Weed Management for Croplands
Madison County Absent Planning Office (From NewWest.Net)
Pivotal Moment Puts All New Subdivision Applications on Hold
Illustrating both the strength and potential vulnerability of planning in Montana's Madison County, the Madison County Planning Board held its last meeting with Planning Office Director Doris Fischer and Planner Staci Beecher.
Both Fischer and Beecher will effectively resign at the end of June leaving the growing county with the difficult task of finding quality replacements while keeping up with a steady influx of new subdivision applications.
Earlier this month in preparation for Fischer and Beecher’s departure, the Madison County Commission passed a resolution placing a moratorium on new subdivision applications for an interim period through September 2007.
The county, which contains the legendary Madison River Valley as well as the booming resort areas of Moonlight Basin, the Yellowstone Club and the Mountain Village in the Big Sky Resort, approved 382 new lots since 2006. At the Monday night meeting in the historic Virginia City Courthouse, the Planning Board reviewed two subdivision applications, which would add a total of 251 new lots in the Big Sky area alone. [more]
City to Buy 40 Acres Near Clark Fork River (from NewWest.net)
Missoula Council Approves Expanding Kelly Island
The Missoula City Council Monday unanimously approved using the city’s open space bond money for its first land purchase, adding 40 undeveloped, cottonwood-filled acres to the existing Kelly Island Recreation Area.
The sales price, $20,000, will come from a $10 million bond approved by voters last November. Fish Wildlife and Parks will manage the land, which will bring additional hiking, swimming and fishing opportunities along the Clark Fork River.
“It’s a very good deal,” says Jackie Corday, the city’s Open Space Program Manager. [more]