Musselshell and Golden Valley Counties, located in Central Montana, have an area of 3,047 square miles and a combined population of 5,610. Roundup, the Musselshell County seat, is the largest town in the two-county planning area. Musselshell County, the eastern county in the planning area, is bounded on the north by the Big and Little Snowy Mountains and on the south by the Bull Mountain Uplands. Golden Valley County to the West, is bounded on the north by the Big Snowy Mountains and on the south by the Big Coulee-Hailstone anticline. The Musselshell River flows through the entire width of the planning area and is largely considered the lifeblood of the planning unit.
Most of the land in Musselshell and Golden Valley Counties is privately owned. The land use for the planning area is about 91% grazing land including forest land, which is generally treated as grazing land due to the type and quality of the trees. Little off-farm commercial value currently exists in these forest communities. The predominant agriculture products in the area are beef cattle, wheat, and hay. The NRCS office, located in Roundup, serves both counties and offers voluntary technical and financial assistance to private landowners interested in natural resource conservation based on a focused approach using long range planning with local input.
Current Financial Assistance Opportunities for Landowners in Musselshell or Golden Valley Counties
- Rooting for Soil Health Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Western Bull Mountains Catastrophic Wildfire Fuels Reduction Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Central Bull Mountains Catastrophic Wildfire Fuels Reduction TIP
In addition to these local projects, producers may also apply for statewide programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program, national Environmental Quality Incentives Program initiatives, and conservation easement programs. For more information on these and other programs, see State Programs and Initiatives on the NRCS Montana webpage.
Additional Information
Montana Local Working Groups
Every year, county Conservation Districts and the NRCS host local working group meetings where farmers, landowners, conservation partners, and other stakeholders in the community discuss the natural resource needs for the county. Based on this feedback, NRCS updates the county’s long-range plan and develops new Targeted Implementation Plans to address those resource concerns.
Montana Focused Conservation
In Montana, NRCS uses a “Focused Conservation” strategy to guide its EQIP investments. Montana Focused Conservation begins with goals identified in local-level Long Range Plans. Based on those plans, NRCS develops Targeted Implementation Plans (TIPs) to guide on-the-ground implementation.
Learn MoreWhat's Available in My Montana County?
Current local financial assistance opportunities in Montana, listed by county. In addition to the local opportunities, producers may also apply for statewide and national programs.
Learn MoreMontana Programs and Application Dates
Program applications are accepted on a continual basis, however, NRCS establishes application ranking dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. Applications received after the ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period.
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