Montana Rangeland Resources Program

A common misconception in ranching is that overgrazing is caused by too many animals. In reality, it's driven by how grazing is managed over time. Successful grazing management isn't defined by the number of animals on the land. It's defined by how well grazing supports healthy plant recovery.

That's the central point Noble senior regenerative ranching advisor Charles Rohla makes in a recent Noble Rancher article — and it's one that changes how you think about managing your pastures. Overgrazing isn't about stocking rate. It's about timing. When livestock return to graze plants before they've had time to recover, those plants draw on stored root energy to regrow. Do that often enough and the root system shrinks, forage production drops, desirable species weaken and less palatable plants move in to fill the gaps.

Overstocking — running more animals than the land can sustainably support — is a related but separate issue. And here's the part that surprises most producers: pastures can become overgrazed even at an appropriate stocking rate if recovery periods are too short. Likewise, higher stocking densities can work when grazing periods are managed and plants get the rest they need.

The fix isn't fewer cows. It's better timing.

Read the full article: https://www.noble.org/regenerative-agriculture/pasture-and-range/overgrazing-vs-overstocking-long-term-impacts-on-pastures-and-profitability/

5 Breakout Tracks
32 Sessions
Over 90 speakers including over 40 ranchers

See the full line up: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1soUjHvOY7iXaIimJclkLlFgcNdpdkjgc/view?usp=share_link

And register for the Grazing Expo: https://whova.com/portal/registration//

The cattle market says "rebuild"... but Mother Nature says "not yet."

With 75% of America's cow herd in drought, many ranchers simply don't have the grass to retain heifers—even as calf prices remain historically strong. Terrain Ag Senior Protein Analyst Dave Weaber says producers still have opportunities, but making the right herd expansion decisions could be critical over the next few years.

Would you retain heifers this fall—or wait for more moisture? Let us know in the comments. 👇

Think you know your sage grouse ?! Check out some about the sage grouse life cycle below. ⬇️

1️⃣ Sage grouse chicks are born with their eyes open 👀 and are covered in down when they emerge from the egg.

2️⃣ In late summer, hens and chicks typically move to wet areas 💦 where still-green plants and abundant insects provide the birds with nutrients to sustain them for the upcoming winter.

3️⃣ Sage grouse do not migrate like other birds, but they do move from the summer range to the winter range, often congregating in large flocks during winter to help avoid predation.

4️⃣ When they are fully grown, sage grouse are the largest North American grouse species. Females weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds; males weigh between 4 and 7 pounds.
So... did you know them all? Which surprised you the most?

📸: Tom Koerner, USFWS

Registration for the 2026 Expanding Markets Conference opens tomorrow, July 1st! 🏔️

Join us in Columbus, September 14–15, where we are connecting ranchers directly with thriving markets. If you are ready for less talk and more actionable strategies to take home, this is an event you don't want to miss.

From supply chain work sessions and knowledgeable speakers, to ranch tours and live demonstrations, this conference is packed with practical tools and great community.

Accommodations in the area are limited, so we highly recommend securing your ticket and lodging early.

Set your alarms for tomorrow morning! Scan the QR code or head straight to https://conference.westernsustainabilityexchange.org/ #/ to register or grab an exhibitor spot. See you there🌱

USDA says staffing shortages at local FSA and NRCS offices are expected to continue as the department works to rebuild its workforce.

Should rebuilding the U.S. cattle herd take priority over increasing beef imports? A new white paper says yes.

In partnership with Indigenous Grazing Lands Coalition (a rancher-led group affiliated through National Grazing Lands Coalition) and Indian Nations Conservation Alliance, we are offering at Two Day Workshop for Tribal Producers in Lodge Pole, MT July 20 and 21. Day 1 will feature instruction from Cattle Up Stockmanship at the Wasay Wakpa Rodeo Arena. Day 2 will feature instruction on rangeland indicators from Delane Atcitty and local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service including a demonstration of the rainfall simulator. We will meet at Enemy Killer Center (gym) and go out to AJ Stiffarm's ranch to do some on the ground learning. Local caterer Las Montanas will be keeping us well fed each day. Each day will start around 9am and wrap up near 3pm.

Attendance is free for Tribal producers. For others wanting to join, a donation to the Wasay Wakpa (red paint) Rodeo Association is suggested. Join us to learn about low stress livestock handling and adaptive grazing management through reading the range. And while you're at the gathering, connect with other organizations who have resources to support grazing management and additional conservation efforts including Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance, World Wildlife Fund Sustainable Ranching Initiative, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, Aaniiih Nakoda College, and others.

Roger and Betsy Indreland have been ranching in south-central Montana for nearly 50 years. It started with 13 bred heifers in 1977 and has grown into a registered Angus seedstock operation built around soil health, low-input cattle, and a long-term management philosophy that keeps getting better.

Their story is a case study in what patience, continuous education, and staying committed to a vision actually looks like over decades.

Worth your time if you're building something for the long haul. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Tag a rancher who needs to hear this one.

Blackfoot ranchers Mark and Wendy Pratt receive award from Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Mark and Wendy Pratt of Blackfoot were recently presented the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency’s “Outstanding Citizen Wildlife Contributor of the Year Award” for their exemplary work balancing private land stewardship, wildlife conservation and public access.