Page 6 - Agriculture Magazine, Summer, 2021
Photo courtesy of the Montana Historical Society
Partners vital in preserving ag in Bitterroot for future generations KATRINA MENDREY WARC Orchard Program Manager
When the Western Agricultural Research Center was established in 1906 the Bitterroot Valley was an agricultural hub in Montana, feeding miners in Butte and Anaconda. Much of this agriculture was fruit production, primarily apple but other specialty crops like berries, vegetables and dairy played an important role in the newly irrigated valley. Over 100 years later agriculture remains a central part of life for many Bitterroot residents and the bucolic scene it sets is an attraction to new comers. But with any growing community conserving our most productive and fertile lands takes careful thought and a network of collaborators. Organizations like the Bitter Root Water Forum, Bitterroot Land Trust, Right to Farm and Ranch Board and the Open Lands Program are vital partners for agricultural producers seeking to preserve their operations for the next generation. “Land conservation in the Bitterroot Valley is more impor-
tant than ever,” says Sharon Schroeder Open Lands Board Chair and owner of the Sunset Bench conservation easement near Stevensville. “The Open Lands Program, represents the community’s desire to see land preserved for many uses including agriculture, wildlife and clean water.” The Open Lands Bond was approved by voters in 2006, allowing the county to sell bonds raising $10 million for conservation easements in the valley. To date it has conserved 7,830 acres of land, through 32 completed conservation projects, creating a network of farming and open land from Florence to Sula, creating wildlife corridors amongst sustainable agricultural operations. Four more projects to be finalized in the coming months, including Sutherlin Farms, Yoder Farms and the Triple D Ranch, will bring the total acres conserved to 9,589. “When we evaluate a project we score based on many factors including how it is managed and its current and potential value as working land for agriculture, wildlife and the preser-
