Carbon County is 2,062 square miles in size with an estimated population of 10,696 people. Red Lodge is the county seat and the largest town with a population of 2,125. The area consists of the Rock Creek and Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River valleys and steep and rolling uplands that merge with the high Beartooth Plateau to the southwest. The south end of Carbon County is comprised of mainly federal land. State land in the county includes 41,958 acres. Private land consists of pasture and rangeland, cropland, irrigated cropland, and private forest.
Livestock production is the principal source of income on farms in Carbon County. Hay, small grains, corn, and silage are grown to supplemental livestock feed. Other important crops include barley, spring wheat, alfalfa seed, dry edible beans, corn, and sugar beets. The NRCS office, located in Joliet, 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 Carbon County Landowners
- Rooting for Soil Health Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone Soil Erosion Reduction Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Invasive Annual Grass Control for Ventenata in Carbon and Stillwater Counties Targeted Implementation Plan (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. For more information on these and other programs, see State Programs and Initiatives on the NRCS Montana webpage.
Additional Information
Montana Local Working Groups
Every year, county Conservation Districts and the NRCS host local working group meetings where farmers, landowners, conservation partners, and other stakeholders in the community discuss the natural resource needs for the county. Based on this feedback, NRCS updates the county’s long-range plan and develops new Targeted Implementation Plans to address those resource concerns.
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.
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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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