Daniels County in the northeast corner of Montana borders Canada on the north and has an area of 1,425 square miles. The county, which lies within the prairie pothole region of the Northern Great Plains, is mostly drained by the Poplar River and its Middle, East, and West Forks. Tributaries of Big Muddy Creek drain the easternmost areas. The Fort Peck Reservation, home to the Assiniboine and Sioux people, includes about one-sixth of Daniels County along its southern border.
In the year 2000, Daniels County was designated the most rural county in the continental United States. The county has a current population of 1,755 (less than half what it was in 1950) and only one K-12 school, located in Scobey, the county seat. Though most of the land in Daniels County is privately owned, the Montana Department of Natural Resources owns about one-fourth of the county.
Much of the land in Daniels County is cultivated. The growing season averages 90 to 110 days a year; precipitation averages between 10 and 13 inches per year. The most common crops harvested are durum and spring wheat, followed by pulse crops, canola, winter wheat, and flax. Forage crops are grown to support cattle and sheep operations. The NRCS office, located in Scobey, 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 Daniels County Landowners
- Fort Peck Reservation Range Land Improvement Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Daniels County Sharp-tailed Habitat Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Migratory Bird Resurgence Initiative
- 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. For more information on these and other programs, see State Programs and Initiatives on the NRCS Montana webpage.
Additional Information
Daniels 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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