Undaunted Stewardship® Land Certification Program

UNDAUNTED LAND STEWARD Certification recognizes farms and ranches that sustain the long-term productivity and health of Montana's grazing lands. Healthy grazing lands provide a wealth of products and values, from scenic beauty and recreational opportunities, to bountiful wildlife and clean water. Healthy grazing lands also benefit the largest segment of Montana's economy-the range livestock industry. For these reasons, healthy grazing lands are vitally important to the economic and environmental health of Montana.

Certification also demonstrates that Montana's farm and ranch families are preserving Montana's open space and scenic beauty while producing food and fiber using agricultural practices that are environmentally sustainable.

Why might farmers and ranchers consider becoming an UNDAUNTED LAND STEWARD?

Who is eligible for certification?
Certification as an UNDAUNTED LAND STEWARD is available statewide to farms and ranches with grazing lands. To be eligible, farms and ranches must be classified as agricultural land by the State of Montana (i.e., generally parcels of = 160 acres).

How does a farm or ranch become certified?
Certification is completely voluntary and obtaining assistance is only a phone call away. Contact the MSU College Of Agriculture (406-994-3415) and mention your interest in UNDAUNTED LAND STEWARD CERTIFICATION.  A MSU Range Scientist will contact you and schedule a visit to your ranch to help prepare your confidential grazing plan.

Not having a management plan or not meeting all of the Stewardship Standards is no reason to dismiss proceeding through the certification process.

UNDAUNTED LAND STEWARDS receive a wooden plaque and a metal roadside sign. UNDAUNTED LAND STEWARDS also are recognized in Undaunted Stewardship® promotional materials.

Farms and ranches need to be re-certified every 5 years by submitting an updated grazing land management plan.

Stewardship Standards of UNDAUNTED LAND STEWARDS
UNDAUNTED LAND STEWARDS use state-of-the-science management practices that maintain or enhance environmental values of grazing lands such as open space, clean water, fish and wildlife, and scenic beauty. UNDAUNTED LAND STEWARDS pledge to adhere to the three Stewardship Standards listed below:

Stewardship Standard 1. Compliance with Laws and Undaunted Stewardship® Principles
1.1 Grazing land management demonstrates a long-term commitment to the environmental ethic embodied within Undaunted Stewardship®.
1.2 Grazing land management respects all local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Stewardship Standard 2. Grazing Management Plan and Environmental Impacts
2.1 A written grazing management plan exists and is kept up to date.
2.2 Fish and wildlife needs-for food, water, shelter, and space-are recognized and balanced with livestock grazing needs. Management recognizes the value of rare, threatened and endangered species.
2.3 The timing and intensity of livestock grazing is in balance with the land's ecological capacity.
Grazing is planned and controlled to promote sustained vegetative productivity, healthy and diverse plant communities, and adequate ground cover to minimize soil erosion and surface water runoff.
2.4 Surface waters receive no direct runoff from corrals and drylots. Contaminants from these sites are filtered through vegetative buffers.
2.5 Noxious weeds are absent, rare, or actively controlled.
2.6 Historical sites and historical landscape values are maintained or enhanced.

Stewardship Standard 3. Monitoring and Assessment
3.1 Landowners conduct annual monitoring to assess environmental impacts and effectiveness of grazing management practices.
3.2 Monitoring procedures enable landowners to assess changes over time.
3.3 Monitoring results are incorporated when management plans are revised.

Undaunted Stewardship® is a statewide partnership between Montana's agricultural and conservation organizations. Led by Montana State University (MSU), the Montana Stockgrowers Association, and the Bureau of Land Management, this public/private partnership works to preserve Montana's history, scenic beauty, environmental quality, and rural economy by encouraging sustainable land stewardship on private agricultural lands. Sixteen other organizations complete the public/private partnership: