10/05/2026
The Rangeland Management lab got a double dose of learning this week, combining industry engagement with hands-on field experience.
We kicked off the day with Ian Kane and Ava Smith from the Montana Stockgrowers Association, who visited with students about how the organization supports and advocates for young Montana producers. They highlighted the ways students can get involved, along with upcoming events that offer real opportunities to build industry knowledge and professional connections.
From there, students headed into the field at the Northern Ag Research Center for their forage availability and utilization lab. Using rangeland assessment techniques, they estimated cover, identified key forage species, classified plants based on how they respond to grazing, determined range condition, and collected forage samples for biomass determination. With pasture history information provided from NARC, students were able to discuss how previous grazing management, environmental conditions, and the time of year influence the plant community they observed in the field. Back in the lab, those samples have been drying throughout the week, so they can calculate dry matter forage availability.
But the learning doesn't stop there! Students will bring their field data back into the classroom, where they'll use their forage production data to calculate stocking rates and build grazing management plans grounded in real pasture conditions. This work pushes them to balance livestock production goals with the long-term health and sustainability of the rangeland - the same tradeoffs every Montana producer faces.
A special thank you to Ian Kane & Ava Smith for taking the time to speak to our MSUN students, and to Northern Ag Research Center for providing pasture history information & continuing to support hands-on learning opportunities that connect science, management, and real-world ranching decisions.
