Fergus County, population 11,413, is located in Central Montana and is made up of a diverse landscape including cropland, grazing land, four mountain ranges, two rivers, and a multitude of perennial and intermittent streams. Gold was discovered in the area in 1880, and in 1885 the county was formed. Lewistown is the county seat, but there are many rural communities scattered throughout the 4,253 square miles. The county includes the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument, the Wild and Scenic Missouri River, and the C.M. Russell Wildlife Refuge. Fergus County is also home to 1 of only 3 ferries in the state that can transport vehicles across the Missouri River. The two rivers found in the county are Missouri River and the Judith River, which flows into the Missouri River on the northern boundary of the county.
Fergus County has always had a strong agriculture base, and this remains the primary economic driver today. The majority of farmland acreage is pastureland. Crops grown in the county include winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, dry peas, alfalfa and grass hay. The NRCS office, located in Lewistown, 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.
County Long Range Plan
NRCS in Montana uses a Focused Conservation strategy to address priority natural resource concerns across the state using Targeted Implementation Plans. It all begins with a long range plan. Each local NRCS field office develops a long range plan with input from landowners, partners, land managers, and others to identify and prioritize natural resource concerns in the county. Based on those plans, NRCS works with stakeholders to determine what conservation practices will be needed to address the resource concerns. Long range plans are updated to reflect the changing needs and objectives of the county’s natural resources.
Fergus County Long Range Plan 2020 (PDF; 1.2 MB)
Current Financial Assistance Opportunities for Fergus County Landowners
Additional Funding Opportunities
In addition to the local projects above, producers may also apply for statewide programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program, national Environmental Quality Incentives Program initiatives, and conservation easement programs. Visit or call your local USDA Service Center, for more information on these and other programs, or visit Montana Programs.
Local Working Group Meetings
Every year, county Conservation Districts and the NRCS host local working group meetings where agricultural producers, 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. You may contact us anytime to express concerns or comments about conservation needs in the county, and we encourage you to attend the next local working group meeting. For more information about local working group meetings, contact your local USDA Service Center.
Snowpack and Water Supply Forecast Information for Fergus County
Contacts
