Toole County, population 4,900, lies along the Canadian border on the northern plains east of Glacier County and the Rocky Mountains. The Marias River which runs from west to east in the southern part of the county, is the only officially designated perennial stream in Toole county. Though precipitation varies widely within Toole county, much of the county in the 10-12” per year precipitation range. Approximately 88% of the land is privately owned.
Agriculture is the principle industry in Toole county, and crop sales constitute the bulk of that over livestock sales. The climate is conducive to some of the best small grain production in the nation and wheat is a mainstay crop for the county. A majority of the acreage is dryland. Other crops grown include pulse crops canola, flax, mustard, occasional safflower, and corn. While cattle are the main livestock today, historically sheep grazing was more common. The NRCS office, located in Shelby, 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 Toole County Landowners
Producers may 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.