SUMMER 2022 Newsletter

SUMMER 2022 ISSUE Petroleum County Conservation District Photo Credit: Reba Ahlgren SNEAK PEEK OF WHAT'S INSIDE: 2 NEW FACES IN THE OFFICE 3 PHEASANTS FOREVER 4 MANAGING STRESS IN AG 5 WINNETT ACES NEWS 6 MONTANA MESONET PROJECT 7 DISTRICT 411/RENTALS/NOTICES 8 PCCD/NRCS STAFF & BOARD

New Faces to the Office Josh Hobbs Katie Lund Trish Smith Working with my hands in the Katie Lund and her husband, JR, Trish (Rowton) Smith is a Winnett dirt for livestock, farming and along with their five (yes, 5!!) area native, growing up on the wildlife began at a young age children run a registered, Black Musselshell River at her families on the family farm in North Angus operation east of Winnett. ranch in Mosby, MT. She spent Central Kansas. With a strong Being first generation ranchers, her childhood making forts in the hunting heritage we always they have a deep appreciation of hills, catfishing, and helping on thought of the land we worked the land and the incredible the ranch. Trish graduated from as land that would give back to value of raising their children in Winnett Highschool, went to us in bountiful harvests of wild the dirt and showing them the MSU Bozeman for general core food. From water conservation value of hard work and constant credits, and then on to the U of M for fish to land stewardship for perseverance. Katie grew up with where she obtained a Medical turkey and deer, my family tried a fishing pole or a basketball in Laboratory Technology degree. to look toward the best ways hand in eastern Montana. She Later on she attended MSU-GFs we could improve the land and went onto the University of online and received a Business carve out a living. I graduated Montana, then transferring to fundamentals certificate. Trish from Oklahoma Panhandle the University of Montana- married her husband, Brent, in State University with degrees in Western earning a Bachelor's 2003 and they have two Biology and Chemistry. Upon Degree in Business with an daughters, McKenzie (15) and graduation I was offered a emphasis in Accounting. Since a Keaghan (9). She has worked at position with the college as young age, Katie had a hospital labs in Choteau & Instructor of Biology, Intro to fascination with numbers and all Billings, was a seasonal firefighter Wildlife Management, Intro to types of math, saving all of her & weed sprayer several summers Zoology and associated labs. I babysitting money to buy a real with the Forest Service and for am not much of a sports fan cash register! the last 8 years was the Executive but am always happy when the Secretary for the Winchester OSU Cowboys whoop the Her stubborn streak, love of Arms Collectors Association. She University of Oklahoma. money, kids and animals helped get the Winnett Times followed through into her adult Newsletter going again and is Once here in Montana I find life. In her \"free\" time, she is an currently the Editor/Publisher. myself appreciating the luck I avid walleye fisherman, enjoys have had in working in the snaring coyotes and loves the Free time is a rarety, but when outdoors even more. Moving mountains; but, there is no possible, Trish enjoys any time west has been a long time greater love than her family, spent with family; including dream and here I am! I consider faith and growing herds of fishing, hunting, horse back myself lucky- there are so many various farm animals. riding, boating, basketball, and who have never followed a also photography. dream. 2

\"It's a Stretch: How Pheasants Forever (PF) is working to meet ranching goals through wildlife programs\" ~. by Martin Townsend, PF Coordinating Bilogist for Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) As we get a little rainfall and grow some grass, it is easy to look around the ranch and see the next project in line that has missed some attention through drought and winter. For many ranches fencing becomes that never ending project. The sheer miles of fencing that can be found on any given ranch can be overwhelming to think of when replacement comes to mind. But from outside the ranching perspective, miles of fencing are a source of stress for others. Pronghorn that migrate across our area can encounter hundreds of fences as they move from summer to winter ranges. Each fence crossing depending on its ease of passage adds a certain amount of stress. Add these up and it creates a potential hazard which can lead to increased death rates in the population. Missing hair from rubbing on fences can lead to frost bite and infection. Factor this wildlife impact against the ranching impact and a bigger issue is shown. Damage to fences from wildlife contribute to ongoing maintenance issues. Fencing is often one of the top few operating costs to ranches. If ranches can find ways to reduce wildlife impacts to their maintenance, they can improve operational costs. If operational costs are reduced by fencing that is less in the way of wildlife, they benefit. This is the win-win goal that led PF to pursuing expanded funding through the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The Big Game Habitat Improvement Project, is an awarded Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) where other conservation partners leveraged their funding to receive expanded funding opportunities for ranchers in Central Montana. This project is then available as potential funding for ranching to improve or replace fences, develop water, improve grazing management, or transition marginal cropland to pasture all in the name of benefiting wildlife. This program can be applied for at your local NRCS office and Pheasants Forever staff in Chinook, Hinsdale, Winnett, and Malta can assist as well. Playing jungle gym, a badger scales this Curiously, a Mule Deer inspects a camera A pronghorn crosses under a fence to cross a woven wire fence along a FWP/RSA monitoring sight highway in southern Phillips County. 3

Managing Stress in the Agriculture Industry FROM THE DESK OF FERGUS COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT SARAH BOCK For many years, farmers and ranchers have proven to be honorable stewards of Montana land, always taking care of their crops and animals. This devotion to our state and keeping our land healthy is intentional and takes hard work by each individual. Just like farmers and ranchers care for their land and livestock, it is equally important that they take care of themselves. There are many challenges in the agriculture industry that are unique and can put a strain on producers. Natural events like fires, drought and flooding, as well as economic circumstances including fuel prices, commodity prices and inflation can all be contributors to stress. Another major challenge is the inclusion of family members in the business, and how to pass on that business entity to the next generation. In addition to those stressors, the isolation many producers feel and the distance they would need to travel to receive mental health services makes receiving help to manage that stress very difficult. Although many of the strains on the agriculture community are out of our control, there are some steps that individuals can take to help manage their stress. One activity that can reduce stress is regular exercise. Even though farmers and ranchers are generally very active in their daily work, it is still important to get in physical activity outside of the work environment. Physical activity helps to reduce adrenaline and cortisol which are two of the hormones that can put a strain on your physical and mental health. This can be as simple as a walk after dinner or some at home strength training exercises that help prevent bone loss and build muscle mass. Another method for reducing stress is to maintain a well-balanced diet and limit your consumption of alcohol and caffeine. It can be difficult to access fresh produce in rural communities, so reaching for frozen and canned vegetables and fruits at your local store can help you get those nutrients in. Limiting caffeine and alcohol is beneficial because these drinks can spike cortisol levels, increase blood pressure, and effect your sleep which can all exacerbate stress rather than reduce it. Lastly, talking to a trusted friend or family member can be beneficial for farmers and ranchers to reduce their stress. If you have tried many of these methods and still feel off, extremely tired or down for more than two weeks and it is affecting your daily life, you may want to consider reaching out to a third party. Taking care of yourself is extremely important and deserves the same attention given to your work. There are new options for receiving mental health services in rural areas. In partnership with the Montana Department of Agriculture, Frontier Psychiatry is offering free counseling services to Montana farmers and ranchers. These services can be provided in-person or through tele-health using the internet or a phone call. When participating in these services, farmers and ranchers will be working with counselors throughout Montana who have experience working in the agriculture industry or grew up on a farm or ranch. To schedule an initial appointment, please visit the Frontier Psychiatry Website or call 406- 200-8741. There are also hotlines that have been established specifically for farmers and ranchers and their unique situations. The Farm Aid Hotline is a phone number for producers experiencing distress or who are in crisis. The number is 1-800-FARM-AID (327-6243), and the hotline is answered between 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern time. 4

ACES Conservation Update ~BY BRENT SMITH, WINNETT ACES COORDINATOR . The Winnett ACES conservation committee has been hard at work providing cost share funding and technical support to producers with in the Musselshell plains area. This committee consists of local producers, governmental representatives (NRCS, FWP, PCCD, PFW) and various NGOs (Pheasants Forever, TNC, Northern Great Plains Joint Venture, RSA). The ACES staff to the conservation committee is Brent Smith and Josh Hobbs. Brent is the part time coordinator for the Winnett ACES with responsibilities of staff for the committee. Josh Hobbs is the full time Coordinating Wildlife Biologist for the Winnett ACES. Josh is an employee of Pheasants Forever with funding for his position coming from our various partners and grants. The Winnett ACES Conservation committee’s cost share program is focused on Rangeland Improvements for Livestock and Wildlife. These improvements include permanent and/or temporary livestock water infrastructure (tanks and pipelines), wildlife friendly fencing and modifications, conifer encroachment management, mesic area restoration, invasive species management, and reseeding of crop land to predominantly native grasses and forbs. This program focuses on enhance grazing systems and native prairie habitat for Tier 1 Focal Species. The Tier 1 species located within the Musselshell Plains are the Baird’s sparrow, Chestnut collared longspur, and Greater sage grouse. Pronghorn antelope habitat benefits will also be prioritized. The focus area for these projects is the Musselshell Plains, which include all or parts of Petroleum, Garfield, Fergus, Musselshell, and Rosebud counties. Projects within the Musselshell Plains area will have priority for funding, but the committee will consider all projects within these 5 counties. If ACES isn’t able to secure funding for some projects, our partners may be able to fund and support them in place of ACES. Winnett ACES staff is wrapping up one of our current grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.With this grant, ACES is able to assist 10 producers with the cost share program with approximately $146,000 in materials and contracted services. The program helped fund nearly 75 miles of fence modifications, 9 miles of new Wildlife Friendly Fence installation, 17 miles of livestock water pipeline, and 19 livestock water tanks. The acres of land that were directly affected for improved Rangeland management is over 22,000 acres. Currently ACES is accepting applications for our Rangeland Improvement Program. These applications are available on the Winnett ACES website or by contacting Brent Smith (406) 599-5120 or [email protected] and Josh Hobbs (406) 429-6646 or [email protected] The application deadline for this round of funding is July 31st, 2022 but there will be additional funding and deadlines. If you are interested in this program or want to know more about other programs available to help improve yours or other’s rangeland, please contact Brent or Josh. Livestock water pipeline installed New wildlife friendly fence New 1150-gal winter livestock trough PO BOX 118, Winnett, MT 59087 * 406.599-5120 * [email protected] * www.WinnettACES.org 5

Montana Mesonet ~ Prepared by Kevin Hyde, Montana Mesonet Manager~ The Montana Mesonet is a partner-driven system of networked climate observtion stations. The closely spaced stations monitor weather, soil moisture, and (optionally) vegetation response. Near real-time data are transmitted by cellular signals for viewing on-line throug. h the Montana Climate Office (MCO). Each MT Mesonet station is configured with a surface weather package, a soil moisture array, and a solar-powered data logger/transmitter unit. Atmospheric data support calculation of evapotranspiration and other meteorological derivatives useful for management decisions. The soil probe array monitors water availability essential for plant growth. Volumetric water content measures soil response to precipitation and vegetation, soil temperature monitors subsurface response to surface temperature trends, and electrical conductivity is sensitive to agricultural inputs and changes to biogeochemical processes. The vertical soil sensor profile monitors trends with depth and potential recharge. Soil data support decisions about crop timing, stocking levels, available water, irrigation efficiency, and drought potential. The optional NDVI sensor pair monitors relative vegetation greenness, a commonly used indicator of vegetation productivity, where local NVDI provides means for future calibration of broad-scale satellite images of vegetation response, water stress, and drought indicators. Standard Mesonet Station Set-up using METER The Montana Mesonet is part of the National equipment with soil and atmospheric metrics recorded. Mesonet system. Our goal is to build out a system of strategically placed stations representing the range of environments, land uses, and jurisdictions across Montana. Build-out of the MT Mesonet began in 2016. Currently 86 stations are active. Additional stations are funded with installation pending. The Montana Climate Office is the home base for the developing the MT Mesonet. Completed station in sagebrush Soil pit in silty loam near Map of Petroleum County with locations rangeland west of Dillon, MT with Roundup, MT. The probes of scheduled installations for 2024 optional NDVI sensor pair measuring vegetation greenness. NDVI can be record changes in plant used to track vegetation health and available water, temperature, forage production. and soil water quality. Vision Statement: The Montana Mesonet Project aims to build out and sustain a high-density network of climate observation stations to provide near real-time data, data derivatives, decision-support tools, and user training to support the economy, environment, and culture of Montana. For more information visit: climate.umt.edu/mesonet/ or contact Kevin Hyde: [email protected] or 406.546.2109 6

District 411 310 PERMITS are required: If you are planning any project including the construction of new facilities or the modification, operation, and maintenance of an existing facility that may affect the natural existing shape and form of any stream, its banks or its tributaries. Any private entity or non-governmental individual that proposes to work in or near a stream on public or private land must obtain a 310 permit prior to any activity in or near a perennial stream.  When in doubt please call the Conservation District Office @ 429-6646 ext. 104 for more information.   FOR SALE PCCD POSITION OPENING: Land Ownership Maps The Petroleum County Conservation District and the Central and Eastern Montana Range Plant & Grass ID Books Invasive Species Team (CEMIST) is seeking a professional program coordinator for up to 40 Fabric and Fabric Staples hrs/week. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of communities east of the Fabric rolls (by roll or foot, depending continental divide and a basic knowledge of on size) invasive species in Montana, their treatment, and their prevention methods. The Wildlife Escape ramps coordinator will focus on working with CEMIST members to complete a strategic plan Sage Grouse Fence Markers and action plan and on education and outreach efforts. Work is based in Winnett or Gate Closers Lewistown, MT. In-state travel is necessary. Salary $18.50-20/hour DOQ. Applications due FOR RENT July 26 by 5 p.m. MST. All documents should be emailed to [email protected]. TREE PLANTER, FABRIC LAYER, LEVEL & Visit petroleumcd.com or call 406-429-4832 TRI-POD, FLOW METER, GPS UNITS, for more information. RANGELAND MONITORING BAG, AND NO-TILL DRILL* (*will be available by fall) Call the CD Office for availability of all items. Prices are subject to change 7

The public is always invited to Petroleum County Conservation District Board the Conservation District JC King - Chairman, Elected Supervisor meetings. Regular meetings are Brenda Brady - Vice-Chairman, Elected Supervisor held each month at the USDA/ Laura Kiehl - Treasurer, Elected Supervisor PCCD office up on the hill. Nate Descheemaeker - Elected Supervisor Meeting time is usually the last Ralph Corbett - Urban Supervisor Thursday of the month at 5:00 Rodney Rowton - Rural Supervisor p.m. Look for notices posted Diane Ahlgren - Associate Supervisor around Winnett. PCCD– NRCS Office Staff All PCCD and NRCS programs Trish Smith - PCCD Administrator are offered on a Katie Lund - PCCD Fiscal Manager nondiscriminatory basis without Loyd Bantz - NRCS District Technician regard to race, color, nation of Reba Ahlgren - NRCS Soil Conservationist origin, religion, sex, age, marital Michael Lucas - NRCS District Conservationist status or handicap. Laura Nowlin - MWC Coordinator Josh Hobbs - Pheasants Forever Partner   Molly Masters - MRCDC Coordinator For more up to date information on events and meetings please c heck out the District’s: Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/Petcocd55 Website @ www.PetroleumCD.com   Petroleum County Conservation District PO Box 118 Winnett, MT 59087-0118 (406) 429-6646 ext. 104 [email protected]   Postal Patron