Mission
Create supportive relationships to challenge paradigms while building profitable and sustainable enterprises to regenerate our land for the next generation.
Recent Happenings
The EMRA Annual Meeting was held on January 13th 2025. Approx. 30 people were in attendance from 1-6 pm. The meeting was conducted by the Vice-Chairman, Colin Manuel and Director, Sue FitzGerald. Members in attendance voted on 2 changes to the By-Laws. No elections took place this year. The board of directors will switch offices with the board which will be decided at the next scheduled board of directors meeting on January 22nd 2025. Following the business meeting Lara Tomov did a wonderful presentation on how she helps organizations and operations “Tell Their Story” and how important this is, especially in agriculture. She has helped numerous organizations and ag operations get the word out about what they do and why. Lara spent the afternoon helping EMRA write their story with the help of those in attendance. The evening was concluded with supper and a video that Lara put together for another producer led organization. EMRA looks forward to working with Lara and if others are interested for their own operation, reach out to Lara directly below:
Lara Tomov- Stories for Action>>>>> https://www.storiesforaction.org
Level up your Communication & Leadership with Joshua & Tara Dukart on January 14th was a day packed with interaction, networking, and learning! What a great presentation which was well attended by families, business partners, and individuals that wanted to learn more about being a strong leader for their businesses. A workshop designed to facilitate understanding of different personality traits and communication skills. I am sure that everyone left the day with a new piece of knowledge in the ways of effective communication!
Photo credit to Gabriele Haughian
Upcoming Events:
WSE Event: Building Cattle Herds That Work In Harmony With Your Grazing Management PART 1
 Kick Off the New Year with Our First Bull Session! We’re starting 2025 strong with an unmissable Bull Session series featuring some of Montana’s most innovative ranchers! Join us on Monday, January 27th and Monday, February 24th at 7 p.m. for a dynamic discussion on building cattle herds that perfectly harmonize with intensive grazing management practices.Monday, January 27th, will focus on sire selection, “Matching Your Bulls to Your Grazing Program.” Topics discussed, but not limited to:What were your goals, and why/how/where did you start?What traits and breeds have worked best How did those choices impact animal performance What challenges did you face; what went right?How has your breeding program evolved over time?How do you measure success? |
Soil Symposium is at the Billings Convention Center February 4-6th.
The Western Landowners Alliance, in partnership with the East Yellowstone Collaborative, invites you to a one-day event, Harnessing Virtual Fencing: Insights from Producers, Vendors and Researchers.
When: January 30, 2025
Time: 9:30 am-4:30 pm
Where: Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Kuyper Pavilion
720 Sheridan Avenue • Cody, Wyoming
RSVP: Register by January 20, 2025
PANELS INCLUDE:
Vendors & Product Overviews: What is virtual fencing & how does it work?
Producer Experiences: Tales from the range
Researchers: Applications and benefits of virtual fence
Partnerships & Economics: How to fund your virtual fence
Opportunities
Are you eyeballs deep in your Regenerative Journey and would like some mentorship guidance from a seasoned regenerative operation?
This new Rancher 2 Rancher program will get kicked into gear in 2025. The R2R program is designed to facilitate the matching of mentors with those seeking specific information or guidance while providing compensation to mentors through grant funding. Reach our if you have or seek specific regenerative knowledge! This is a great networking opportunity to get some hands-on assistance and personalized guidance. Contact Sue FitzGerald at emra.regen@gmail.com
Get on the calendar for the Marble Table Ranch of the Month Program—a unique opportunity for ranchers in our network!
This program was created to spotlight ranches that either already sell directly to consumers or are eager to expand into this growing market. Click here to learn more about the program and view the informational packet; you’ll find everything you need to know about the program, including what’s required from you, what Jason at Marble Table needs, and how we’ll be supporting you along the way.
After reviewing the details, if you’re ready to proceed, simply use the link in the document to complete the brief survey. We’ll also ask you to take (or retake) the Regen Ranch Guide, a quick 20-minute questionnaire on regenerative practices.
If you still have questions after reviewing the flyer, please reach out. We’re eager to work with you and bring this exciting program to life!
| WSE is working on a bulk order of Humates.What are humates, you ask? Walking on your pasture, does the ground beneath your feet feel solid, compacted, and/or hard? Does bare ground in your pasture keep you up at night? Humates may help! Benefits of humates include:Improved nutrient cycling and adsorption (improved efficacy of applied fertilizers/nutrients)Improved chlorophyll productionImproved feed quantity and qualityImproved water infiltration (keep more of the rain/snowmelt in the soil)!Increases the spongy, fertile feeling under your feetImproved soil organic matter retention (less erosion)Improvements in saline (salty) soils by increasing organic matter |
| Improvements to animal health are also shown after supplementing with humates. These benefits include: Humates may improve the digestibility of grass, dry matter, and protein (crude)Humates may increase calf weight gainHumates can improve grass-to-weed ratio (think bare ground) through dung-soil transferHumates may help in times of stress for animals (and plants) especially when nutrient deficiencies are presentHow much will I need? As a soil amendment, you’ll need 1-2 lbs/acre. As an animal supplement, you’ll need 5-10 grams/kilogram of animal (0.16 oz/lb) What is the cost? 1 ton super sacks (2000 lbs.) $241/ton, 8.30/lb plus freight 22 sacks on a truck (consistency of a course table salt) Liquid humate, 0.5 Gallon/acre 275 gallon totes If you’d like to participate in a bulk order to save on shipping, WSE is putting together an order. Reach out to Colin @ cmcclure@wsestaff.org to get on the list. |
USDA Announces Grant Funding Opportunity for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is making available $2.5 million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants, building on $53.7 million invested in UAIP grant projects by OUAIP since 2020. Eligible entities should apply by March 10, 2025.
“This grant program continues to grow in popularity, and we look forward to partnering with more communities nationwide to strengthen local food systems and increase access to healthy foods,” said Louis Aspey, Acting Chief of NRCS. “We’re also excited for this opportunity to add experienced Urban Agriculture Conservation Extension Educators to enhance our customer service through the partnership with NIFA.”
Recipients of UAIP competitive grants, including community gardens and nonprofit farms, will increase food production and access in economically distressed communities, provide job training and education, and allow partners to develop business plans and zoning proposals. The program supports a wide range of activities through grants that include planning and implementation activities. Planning activities initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs, while implementation activities accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor and other agricultural practices that serve farmers and communities. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 10, 2025.
For more information and a complete list of past recipients and project summaries, visit www.usda.gov/urban.
A pre-recorded webinar available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=63snY3AZrvc provides an overview of the grants’ purpose, project types, eligibility and basic requirements for submitting an application.
South Dakota is the land of infinite variety, from our fertile croplands in the east, to our prairies in the central and west, to the granite outcroppings of the forested Black Hills. The primary focus for this project will be marginal lands impacted by wet conditions, saline or sodic soils and eroded areas, such as hilltops. Learn more about how Every Acre Counts has benefited participants as they share changes and opportunities to improve their operations in the interview series linked below
https://extension.sdstate.edu/agriculture/every-acre-counts
Videos/Books/Podcasts
Check out the list put together by members and anyone willing to share! Check it out:
https://emragroup.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=1804&action=edit
Do you have some that you are willing to share? Email me: emra.sarafina@gmail.com
The Art of Range Podcast # 144
AoR 144: Jay Wilde, Idaho Rancher, Builds Beaver Habitat to Restore Stockwater https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-144-jay-wilde-idaho-rancher-builds-beaver-habitat-restore-stockwater
Other great information shared by local organizations:
- Impacting Soil During the Winter Months with Bale Grazing with Jeremy Sweeten and Kent Solberg and Understanding Ag.
- Western Landowners Alliance 2025 Water Webinar Series. The second in the series, “Beneath Our Feet: Are groundwater easements a solution for the West,” will be on February 12th at 12 p.m.
- Sharing Your Ranching Story on Social Media. Build community and connections by posting stories, photos, and videos of your regenerative journey. Written by Laura Nelson, guest blogger for the Noble Institute
Thank you for reading!
Sue FitzGerald
EMRA Executive Director
emra.regen@gmail.com
Sarafina Claeys
EMRA Coordinator
emra.sarafina@gmail.com
EMRA
PO Box 64
Jordan, MT 59337
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