Fallon County in the southeast corner of Montana has a total area of 1,619 square miles and a population of 3,009. Baker is the Fallon County seat; the only other incorporated community in the county is the town of Plevna. Average elevation is 2,910 feet and woodland vegetation is uncommon in this county dominated by semi-arid grasslands. The growing season usually lasts for about 136 days, from around the middle of May to the third week of September. Average annual precipitation for most of the county is fourteen to fifteen inches per year, most of which falls as rain between April and October.
Roughly 87 percent of the land in Fallon County is in farms, with the majority of that land used as range or pasture. A great deal of cropland is dedicated to producing feed and forage for livestock. Among annual crops, dryland wheat is in the lead. The NRCS office, located in Baker, 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 Fallon County Landowners
- Removal of Windmills Fallon County: Improving Water Supply for Livestock and Enhancing Habitat for Grassland Birds TIP
- Northern Great Plains Grassland Conservation RCPP Project
- Sage Grouse Initiative
- Southeast Montana Ventenata Control TIP
- 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
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.
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.