Interstate 94 and the Yellowstone River divide Rosebud County into a north and south half. North Rosebud County is remote prairie with only two paved roads and several dirt county roads. The southern portion of the county has two paved roads that take you to the communities of Colstrip, Lame Deer, and Ashland. Colstrip is a former “company town” based around the coal mining and power generation industry. Lame Deer is the capital of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation which extends from the western border of Rosebud County to the Tongue River. Most of the county is dominated by prairie, which is primarily grazed by livestock, though Ponderosa pine is frequently found in the uplands south of the Yellowstone River. Prime and Important farmland soils cover 12 percent of the county with the majority in the Yellowstone Valley.
Beef cattle production is the largest sector of animal agriculture in Rosebud County, and crop production on irrigated cropland is dominated by the forage needs of cattle producers. Winter wheat, barley, and sugar beets are also grown. NRCS offices, located in Forsyth and Lame Deer, offer 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 Rosebud County Landowners
- Rooting for Soil Health Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Sulphur Cinquefoil Control Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Northern Great Plains Grassland Conservation RCPP Project
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
Rosebud County Local Working Group
Local working group meetings are held to gather input from local stakeholders to help prioritize natural resource concerns and guide NRCS funding opportunities.
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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