November 2006
Sheridan County Conservation Notes
119 North Jackson
Plentywood, MT 59254
406-765-1801
A bimonthly publication of the Sheridan County Conservation District
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE NRCS CONSERVATION INVESTMENT
This investment by NRCS in Montana’s economy and environment is projected to generate a total of $62.5 million in economic activity and help to create or maintain 231 jobs statewide.
Conservation activities do more than help our environment. The impact to local economies includes changes in production, recreation, jobs, taxes, and spending. These impacts don’t occur just once, but have multiplier effect.
For example, paying a contractor to install a stock water pipeline helps pay employee salaries and other operating costs and provides a profit for the contract. The contractor and employees will then spend their earnings at other local businesses. Thus, one dollar circulates within the community several times. The NRCS uses a computer program to estimate the economic benefits of conservation programs, In addition to the environmental benefits, to local communities.
The table below summaries the NRCS conservation program funds obligated in fiscal year 2006 in Sheridan County. These amounts do not include technical assistance in the form of NRCS staff salaries and benefits, office space, administrative overhead, vehicles, and other costs.
NRCS Obligation in Farm Bill Programs—Sheridan county
|
Program/Fund Code |
Program Dollars |
Number of Contracts/Easements |
|
EQUIP: county dry cropland |
$147,146 |
7 |
|
EQUIP: county grazing land |
$57,324 |
1 |
|
EQUIP: Lower Missouri Zero-Till Initiative |
$92,094 |
5 |
|
EQUIP: county multiple land uses |
$48,101 |
3 |
|
EQUIP: Piping Plover Special Initiative |
$76,258 |
2 |
|
EQUIP: Prairie Potholes Focus Area |
$38,535 |
3 |
|
Total |
$459,468 |
21 |
ZERO SPREAD WEED MANAGEMENT
Taken from a letter by Becky Kington, Executive Secretary, Montana Weed Control Assn.
Noxious weeds are the number one threat to Montana natural resources and view sheds because they are destroying the productivity of the land, devastating the economic viability of farms and ranches, decimating wildlife habitat and fisheries and diminishing the quality and quantity of our waterways. Currently, the Montana Department of Ag has designated 27 noxious weeds in the State of Montana. For specific information on those particular weeds, please visit www.mtweed.org.
To fight the spread of weeds, landowners and ranchers across the state are coming together to form weed management areas and weed management groups. These groups, with the help of their county weed coordinators, extension
agents, NRCS, Montana State University, and the Montana Department of Agriculture, are creating land management plans designed to stop weed spread and, in some cases, eradicate weed infestations.
We have a few Zero Spread packets available. If you are interested in more information, stop by and visit with Monica, Tim or Ryan.
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