The Agriculture and Grazing Management Program is responsible for leasing and managing approximately 9,000 agreements for crop and rangeland uses on 4.76 million acres of school trust lands throughout the state. Administrative staff and specialists in the department's Helena office and staff in field offices statewide manage the program.

Agricultural and Grazing Lands

The surface leasing program maintains the Ag and grazing lease agreements. Leases are issued for a 10 year lease term approximately 1000 leases renew each year. Maintaining leases also includes: processing assignments, subleases, pasturing and custom farming agreements.

• Renewing Tracts open to competitive bidding

• Vacant tract open for bid
• Assignments, subleases, pasturing agreements, custom farming agreements. Forms available on-line.

Quick Facts 

Currently 2,800 agreements cover agricultural use of state trust lands and Approximately 8,100 agreements are grazing. Crops Raised on the lands are: Small Grains and hay.  Irrigated crops: grain crops, corn, sugar beets, potatoes, Peas, lentils, garbanzo beans, canola, safflower, alfalfa seed, and native seed

• 575,000 acres are agricultural a majority are 25% crop share set by statute; and cash per acre rentals.
• 4.1 million, acres of classified grazing, and forest lands with an estimated carrying capacity of 990,000 animal-unit-months (AUMs) a minimum rental rate. Rate is a multiplier set by the Land Board and the average weighted price of beef cattle sold in Montana during the previous year.
• State Trust Land receives revenue from the Farm Service Agency (USDA) from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).