What can I apply for?
- Applicants may apply for up to $75,000 per application. Grant funding is provided as reimbursement for completed project expenditures.
- Applications are submitted annually for development, education, research, and local cooperative (landowner cost share) projects.
Specific Project Types
- Local Cooperative projects should:
- support the State Weed Management Plan and meet Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) criteria,
- adhere closely to herbicide costs listed in the Current State Bid: Agricultural Chemicals,
- all herbicides must be used at state bid prices,
- have measurable objectives that describe how renewable resources will be enhanced,
- utilize appropriate integrated management techniques,
- provide a time schedule for beginning and completing all phases of the project,
- incorporate an annual monitoring plan to effectively track progress, and
- provide educational opportunities for land managers.
* New Local Cooperative projects require completion of an environmental assessment (EA) for the project area. EA requirements under the Noxious Weed Trust Fund Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (May 2010) include:
- General Vegetation
- Soils (includes soil maps)
- Ground and Surface Water (includes project maps and well locations)
- Air quality
- Habitat of fish & wildlife
- Threatened, endangered and species of concern (includes list of animals from MNHP or FWP)
- Historical and archeological sites (includes a letter from the Montana Historical Society)
* See instruction tab for more details on completing the EA
Research projects may include chemical, non-chemical, biological, and integrated approaches to weed control. Creative proposals for investigating new weed management techniques are encouraged. Matching funds are not required and any in-kind match or forgone indirect costs can be noted in the application.
- Research projects should:
- support the State Weed Management Plan,
- be developed in cooperation with land managers to address land management needs,
- increase knowledge of noxious weeds and/or improve an important aspect of noxious weed management,
- enhance a new or existing method of weed management,
- provide the foundation for a positive long term effect on threatened natural resources,
- contain specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely project objectives,
- explain the purpose of the research, what research has been done in the past, and what improvement and/or increased knowledge the project will produce,
- effectively disseminate project results to end users, and
- provide a time schedule for beginning and completing all phases of the project.
*Applicants are encouraged to contact the State Biological Control Coordinator at 406-258-4223 to discuss and collaborate on biological control components of the project.
Education/Development Projects
Education/Development projects include mapping, monitoring, planning, and education. Matching funds are not required and any in-kind match or forgone indirect costs can be noted in the application.
- support the State Weed Management Plan,
- build partnerships and include collaborative resources from weed management resources,
- promote public awareness about noxious weed impacts and illustrate opportunities for action,
- be based on sound ecological principles,
- include a detailed action plan of how the project will be completed,
- contain specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely project objectives,
- specify how project success will be monitored and measured, including long-term evaluation, and
- provide a time schedule for beginning and completing all phases of the project.
*Applicants are encouraged to contact the State Education Coordinator at 406-883-7375 to discuss and collaborate on educational components of the project.
- Statewide Programs
- The Statewide Programs benefit the entire state and work in several or all counties. These programs include the Montana Noxious Weed Education Campaign, Montana Biocontrol Project, and strike-teams for Early Detection, Rapid Response programs. Statewide programs can apply for funds up to $225,000 for 3 years, not to exceed $75,000 per year. All awarded funds are reimbursable and can provide wages, supplies, contract work, and 50:50 cost-share for herbicides, commercial applicators, and re-seeding mixtures. Purchasing chemicals through the state bid is highly recommended. All programs should complement and enhance the Montana Weed Management Plan. Those interested in applying for this opportunity must have previously been awarded a Noxious Weed Trust Fund grant for the project for a minimum of 1 year and be in good standing. Contact the Grant Coordinator at 406-444-7882 for questions about eligibility.
How Do I Apply?
Register & Apply Online
- Applicants may apply for up to $75,000 per application.
- All applications must be submitted by an authorized organization (county weed district, conservation district, MSU extension or a non-profit).
- Refer to the Grant Instructions tab above for complete details and requirements.
- Register online at funding.mt.gov and choose Agriculture as your program of interest.
Application forms are submitted electronically using the online Montana Grants and Loans system. Applications are available annually starting in June/July. Complete registration and application instructions can be found on the Grant Instructions tab above, or download the current Grant Guidelines.
Applications are reviewed by Department staff and the Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council. Grant hearings are held annually in March, where each applicant provides a ten minute presentation (PowerPoint, photos, etc.) for their project. Applicants are notified of the date and time of their presentation prior to the grant hearings.
Funding Deliberations & Project Selection
NWTF grants are competitive. Applications are evaluated based on the degree to which they address specific criteria found in the guidelines below. The Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council provides funding recommendations to the Department for final funding approval by the Director.
Development Criteria
Education Criteria
Research Evaluation Criteria
Local Cooperative Evaluation Criteria
Statewide Programs Evaluation Criteria
Applicants selected for funding are notified approximately three weeks after the NWTF grant hearings. A contract is written to define all project terms, conditions and responsibilities of the applicant and will clarify all legal patents and proprietary rights that will result from the proposed activity.
Once the contract is reviewed and signed by all applicable parties, the recipient will be able to request reimbursement for eligible costs incurred. The contract is effective upon the final signature(s) and date.
Projects must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, licensing and regulations for funds to be awarded. Evidence of such compliance may be required before grant reimbursement is issued.
Applicants not approved for funding will be notified in writing of the decision.
Award recipients are required to submit status reports in April and November of each year of the grant. Status reports address project activities from both the preceding time period and the upcoming time period. A final status report form summarizing the activities, impacts, and results of the entire project is required before the final claim is approved. Find more detailed information on the Instructions page.
