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cows graze flat rangeland with forested hills behind, Petroleum County, Montana

Petroleum County

Petroleum County is located in Central Montana with the Mussellshell River bordering to the East and the Missouri River bordering to the North. Landscape in the county is generally rolling prairie and sagebrush steppe with areas of timbered sandstone ridges. Breaks areas along the Missouri and Mussellshell rivers create a broken, timbered landscape that falls away to cottonwood and willow river bottoms. Nearly half (42 percent) of the county’s 1,653 square miles is publicly owned land. The county seat is Winnett.

Stock growers, homesteaders, petroleum producer have all played important roles in the county’s history and development. Today, beef production is the main economic enterprise in Petroleum County, though wildlife and recreation are also large economic drivers. The majority of the land in the county is rangeland, pastureland or grazable forest. Cropland makes up just 14 percent. The main crops are wheat, barley, alfalfa and grass hay. The NRCS office, located in Winnett, 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 Petroleum County Landowners​​

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.

Petroleum 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.

Petroleum County Long Range Plan 2020 (2.51 MB)

Find Your Local Service Center

USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices.

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.

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What'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.

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Montana Programs and Application Dates

Program applications are accepted on a continual basis, however, NRCS establishes application dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. Applications received after the date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period.

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