THE USE OF PRESCRIBED FIRE

THE USE OF PRESCRIBED FIRE

As a second edition of their webinar series focused on forestry issues, the Western Landowners Alliance (WLA) recently hosted a panel discussion on the uses of and challenges inherent in using prescribed fire to manage forests. While the speakers agreed that prescribed fire is a useful tool for proper management in most places, there were resounding concerns from all of the panelists regarding the use of prescribed fire including public perception and landowner education, liability, personnel, planning and coordination, and cost. 

BREWERIES LEADING THE WAY IN PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION

BREWERIES LEADING THE WAY IN PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION

The large task of preserving heritage and conserving natural resources across the American West takes multi-faceted and concentrated efforts. The private sector serves as an important partner in the collective work to achieve the preservation and conservation outcomes in many individual communities and ecosystems. Though there are many businesses across the country that traditionally support these efforts, the beer industry in particular has continued to support restoration, preservation and conservation efforts in both interactive and innovative ways. 

A VISION FOR BOZEMAN'S NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD

A VISION FOR BOZEMAN'S NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD

In the historic Ellen Theater in downtown Bozeman, the visiting American Institute of Architecture team made their final presentation on their recommendations from the full draft report of the Bozeman R/UDAT study, a culmination of the Bozeman R/UDAT program, which engaged the community to plan the future of the distinctive and historic Northeast Neighborhood area.

As part of their recommendations, the group divided the study area into four distinct districts.

RLI LAND MARKET SURVEY

RLI LAND MARKET SURVEY

Across the entire United States, during the reference period (2015-2016), the dollar volume of land sales increased the most for timber land at 5% and residential land at 4%. Agricultural irrigated land sales fell by 1%, and non-irrigated land sales by dollar volume decreased by 2%, likely due to slump in commodity prices, according to the Land Market Survey released annually by the REALTORS® Land Institute and the National Association of REALTORS®.

CHISHOLM TRAIL HERITAGE

CHISHOLM TRAIL HERITAGE

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail, the most famous cow path in history. In the late 1800s, approximately five million head of cattle were trailed from Texas right through Bell County, where our founder and leader Kelly Beevers grew up, to railheads in Kansas. 

We work to preserve and utilize the distinctiveness of place in large part to honor and integrate heritage. In doing so we connect people and strengthen our communities. Though we are based in Montana, work largely in the Northern Rockies, and focus our efforts in the American West, Kelly's roots reach down to Central Texas.

ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAM FOR RANCHERS

ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAM FOR RANCHERS

National agriculture industry consulting and CPA firm K-Coe Isom recently announced a new program aimed to help ranchers generate revenue from conservation projects while simultaneously reducing the rancher’s inherent risk of testing and implementing such projects. Funded by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the program is specific to ranchers whose property is located in priority sage grouse habitat or crucial mule deer winter range or designated mule deer migration corridors within Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, or California.

BOZEMAN R/UDAT NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT

BOZEMAN R/UDAT NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT

Bozeman is one of three communities nationally that has been chosen for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Regional / Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT) project. The focus area for the Bozeman R/UDAT is the Northeast Neighborhood District. Within the area within the orange R/UDAT study boundary, 70% of land has potential for redevelopment in the next ten years. In addition, Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT) is spending $40M to redo and upgrade the Rouse corridor.

OBJECTIVES, BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN PRIVATE FORESTRY

OBJECTIVES, BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN PRIVATE FORESTRY

Across much of the American West, primarily the southwest, overstocked and mismanaged forests are leading to poor tree growth, increased fire danger and increases in threads to overall forest health from insects and disease. Additionally, the proper management of these same forests has the ability to create positive impacts in local economies by providing jobs and goods for regional communities. This intersection of the issues of private land stewardship and bolstering sustainable economies fits squarely within the mission of The Western Landowners' Alliance (WLA).

GREAT BASIN CONSERVATION COOPERATIVE

GREAT BASIN CONSERVATION COOPERATIVE

Focused on the Great Basin, one of 22 Landscape Conservation Cooperatives in North America, the Great Basin Landscape Conservation Cooperative (Great Basin LCC) represents a partnership among public and private groups. The Great Basin LCC supports landscape-scale conservation, promotes science, and enables management based on traditional knowledge and science so human and ecological communities can respond and adapt to climate and land use change.

UNDER THE BIG SKY

UNDER THE BIG SKY

Montana seems to have an unusually high concentration of makers.

The Montana Television Network (MTN) recently re-launched the Under The Big Sky brand in part to feature the incredible depth of talented makers in the state. Focusing on first-person storytelling, MTN has created the new show to highlight the people, places and organizations that continue to make Montana a strong and dynamic community, and pave the way for the future while embracing and celebrating the past. 

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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. 

YOUR JOURNEY AWAITS.