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THE HIGH DIVIDE COLLABORATIVE

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THE HIGH DIVIDE COLLABORATIVE

The High Divide region of Idaho and Montana straddles the Continental Divide along the Idaho-Montana state line and is the center of connectivity between the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Crown of the Continent and the wilderness Central Idaho. Although the region only encompasses two states, it has continental significance because it houses headwaters for the Missouri and Columbia watersheds and it is a stronghold for wildlife that have disappeared from much of their historic range.  

To protect this crucial area, the High Divide Collaborative is bringing stakeholders together to work collectively to conserve and restore lands of importance for local communities and to protect ecological integrity at the landscape scale.

PLOWING FORWARD

PLOWING FORWARD

The agriculture industry dominates the Montana economy. In Montana, agriculture is a $4.5 billion industry with a connection to one in five Montana jobs. There are 28,000 farms and ranches in Montana. And, the state is #1 in the nation in production of pulse crops and #2 in organic acres. All of these farms, ranches, crops, and people that work in the industry are affected by climate. 

According to ongoing research, by 2050 Montana will likely realize a 4-6 degree increase in the temperature, 20-40 fewer days below freezing, and 5-10% less summer rain. 

PERENNIAL GRASS RESEEDING

PERENNIAL GRASS RESEEDING

As part of the The Western Governors' Association (WGA) hosted a webinar on Rangeland Management Strategies, the speakers dug into some of the challenges and opportunities with reseeding.

There are a number of barriers, which vary across time and space, to native seedling survival. If soil freezes for even a 24-48 hr period, up to 90% of the germinated seeds can die. Alternatively, a couple of warm days in December can cause seeds to germinate. Precision restoration is key to perennial grass reseeding.

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

Starting a new business can be daunting. Thankfully, we have not had to go it along. Our supportive community filled with talented individuals willing to collaborate with us has brought us strength as we've launched and begun to grow Topos & Anthros. Though there are many small businesses that have helped Topos & Anthros get off the ground, we owe extra gratitude to Chema Domenech & Stacy Townsend.

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MORE THAN JUST AN ASSET

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MORE THAN JUST AN ASSET

We advocate that real estate and conservation work best in tandem, and that property can honor heritage and strengthen community. Thankfully, we are not alone in our conviction. Our home of southwest Montana has a number of landowners who steward their properties with a similar community-driven mindset. Arthur Blank, owner of Mountain Sky and new owner of neighboring West Creek Ranch, is one such landowner.

INTRODUCING PROPERTY LISTINGS

INTRODUCING PROPERTY LISTINGS

By offering buyer's representation to prospective landowners and operators, and seller's representation and marketing to property owners, we work to minimize risk, identify and capitalize on opportunities and ultimately to simplify landownership for our clients.  As part of this service line, we are debuting the Property Listings section of our website. 

MONTANA RANCH MARKET OVERVIEW FOR 2016

MONTANA RANCH MARKET OVERVIEW FOR 2016

When looking at the "just land" sales per acre number, Clark categorizes 2016 as "stable, but softening" relative to the market over the last ten years. In 2007 the Montana land market had record high transactions at an average of $1909 / acre for just land, excludes the value attributed to buildings and leases. The farm and ranch market bottomed out in 2010 at $610/acre, which represents a 68% loss from the high. By 2014 the market came all the way back up to $1,465 / acre, a 140% gain over 2010. The figure in 2016 is only a 7% discount from 2014. In terms of price per acre 2014 through 2016 resembles 2004 through 2006. For reference, the price of land sold per acre excluding buildings and leases in 2005 was $1,361 / acre. 

RANGELAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

RANGELAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Data from rangeland studies in both Oregon and New Mexico supports grazing as a strategy to promote ecological resiliency. Grazing can be used to manage and promote perennial grasses. In a study focusing on The Great Basin area, researchers found that the fuel moisture of un-grazed rangeland was 21% whereas the same fuel moisture of properly grazed rangeland was over double that at 46%.

IN THE FIELD

IN THE FIELD

We are so excited about our work that we just can't keep it to ourselves. Soon we will be featuring #inthefield photo posts revealing glimpses of the projects we are contributing to and featuring the inspiring places in which we work. Follow Topos & Anthros on Instagram to keep up with what we're doing #inthefield! 

THE TOOL OF ADAPTIVE GRAZING

THE TOOL OF ADAPTIVE GRAZING

Because the ways in which land is managed affects the future ability to utilize the land, there's a case to be made to consider adaptive management today to best plan for tomorrow. By definition adaptive management is simply the systematic approach for improving resource management by learning from management outcomes.

PERMANENT TAX INCENTIVES FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS

PERMANENT TAX INCENTIVES FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS

2016 is the first in over 15 years that the tax incentives associated with conservation easements have been permanent. The permanency of the deductions translates to a reliability that allows landowners to make more informed strategic decisions and plan for the future of their farms and ranches with more certainty than in the past.  

AMERICA'S LARGEST LANDOWNERS LIST RELEASED

AMERICA'S LARGEST LANDOWNERS LIST RELEASED

Every winter, The Land Report releases a Top 100 List of America's Largest Landowners. Earlier this month, the magazine unveiled the 2016 list. Though the top two remain unchanged, there are many new names on this year's list. Of the top 25 landowners by acreage, 20% are classified as "new to the list" meaning that in 2015 their land holdings did not qualify them for a spot in the top 100.

JOINING PFISTER LAND CO.

JOINING PFISTER LAND CO.

Initially drawn to Pfister Land Co. because of the company's professional reputation and proven track record of interesting projects across the west, Kelly ultimately decided to partner with Rob Pfister because of their shared values and the similarity of the business foundation of Pfister Land Co. and Topos & Anthros. 

YOUR JOURNEY AWAITS.