Wibaux County on the border of North Dakota in eastern Montana has an area of 889.27 square miles and a population of 1,034. Just over half the county’s residents live in the town of Wibaux, the only incorporated community in the county. Apart from the Yellowstone River which marks the northwest boundary of the county for just under three miles, there are no rivers or major river tributaries in Wibaux County. Average annual precipitation ranges from 15-16 inches per year in the south-central part of the county to 13-14 inches in the far north, and drought years are not uncommon. Land cover types in the county are approximately 58% grassland and 19% cultivated crops with smaller areas of badlands, riparian zones, sagebrush steppe, woody draws and introduced vegetation.
Most of the land in Wibaux County is privately owned. The majority of livestock producers are commercial cow/calf operators, and a large percentage of cropland is dedicated to producing feed and forage for livestock. Among row crops, dryland wheat is most prevalent. The NRCS office, located in Wibaux, 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 Wibaux County Landowners
- Improving Grassland Health and Little Bluestem Management Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Sage Grouse Initiative
- Taking Soil Health to the Next Level - Miles City Area 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. Visit or call your local USDA Service Center, for more information on these and other programs, or see State Programs and Initiatives on the NRCS Montana webpage.
Additional Information
Wibaux 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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