Missoula pasture program offers free help for landowners

MISSOULA, Mont. — A free Missoula County program is helping landowners learn how to better manage their land for grazing.

The Missoula County Department of Agriculture and Extension offers site visits through its pasture evaluation program. Natalie Sullivan, an MSU Extension Agriculture, Equine and Livestock agent in Missoula County, said the work is focused on helping people understand what is happening on their land.

"We'll help you take a soil test. We'll even help you take a hay or pasture sample to see what nutrients are there. And then we'll give you recommendations on how to control those weeds or how to start building out a grazing plan," said Natalie Sullivan.

Sullivan explained that one option she often recommends is rotational grazing. She said that approach involves closing off parts of a pasture and letting different species graze at different times.

Rancher Brad Isbell said that method had worked well for him.

"What you want to do is stay in the sweet spot of where the plant's growing. So you want to let it rest to begin with until it grows up to that range. And then you move the animals in on that, and you let them eat it down, but you never let them eat more than four inches from the from the ground," said Brad Isbell.

Sullivan said that the program is designed to share knowledge with those who need it.

"A lot of people who are taking advantage of this pasture evaluation program are new to owning land of any size, new to owning livestock, horses, sheep, goats, they're even new to Montana. And it can be really overwhelming. You know where to start, what to spend money on, where to put your resources, including time," said Natalie Sullivan.

Sullivan said poorly managed pastures could take years to recover. Applications for a free site visit are available on the department's website.