Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG)

The Innovation in the Cattle and Beef Industry is an intensive/feedlot-based measure that aims to bring regenerative Montana beef full circle and create a regenerative animal feeding operation. It is a 3-part measure which are:

• GHG capture with an indoor feedlot
• Renewable energy systems by converting gas and solar into energy
• Organic fertilizer with a digester

When implemented these practices would:

• Improve water quality
• Reduce transportation emissions
• Nitrogen and Phosphorus separation in organic fertilizers for strategic application

Goals of the Innovation in the Cattle and Beef Industry include:

• $10 million in grant funds over 5 years
• 25,000 head under innovative feed systems per year for 5 years
• 2 MW solar PV installed per year for 5 years
• 45,000 tons of manure digested per year for 5 years
• Reduce GHG emitted by 0.37 million metric ton
• Reduce methane emissions by 0.07 million metric tons

The Fertilizer Use & Innovation measure aims to improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient leaching in soils and educate farmers. The practices used include:

• Soil testing
• Variable fertilizer rates or On-Field Precision Experimentation
• Nitrogen fixing cover crops
• Appropriate times to apply fertilizer

When implemented, these practices:

• Reduce total lbs. of N utilized on fields (35% on average) (Hegedus 2023. Hegedus et al. Using spatially variable nitrogen application and crop responses to evaluate crop nitrogen use efficiency. below the note)
• Reduce total lbs. of N volatilized

The goals of the Fertilizer Use & Innovation measure include:

• $1 million available for education and/or incentives over 5 years
• Various outreach, education and trainings for farmers
• Sign up 100,000 acres of farmland per year for 5 years
• Reduce N volatilization and GHG by 0.07 million metric tons

Note, this research is ongoing in MT on dryland winter wheat but is projected to work on cereals (winter wheat, spring wheat, durum and barley)

The Ranchland Steward Program is a grazing-based measure which aims to improve soil health, resiliency, and carbon drawdown through sustainable grazing practices. Such practices include:

• Shorter grazing duration
• Higher stock density
• Smaller pasture sizes
• Longer recovery periods

When implemented, these practices improve:

• Canopy cover/litter cover
• Plant diversity
• Soil organic matter
• Water infiltration rate
• Water retention
• Carbon drawdown

Goals of the Ranchland Stewardship Program:

• $6.5 million in grant funds over 5 years
• .5 metric tons of CO2 sequestered per acre per year
• Sign up 25,000 acres per year for 5 years
• Educational sessions for ranchers