Agricultural Scientist

Work Unit Overview:

The Forestry and Trust Land Management Division (FTLD) of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) manages approximately 5.2 million surface and 6.2 subsurface acres of state trust land. The mission of FTLD is to manage resources and uses on State trust land for the benefit of the Common Schools and other endowed institutions under the direction of the Board of Land Commissioners (Land Board).

The Land Board is comprised of the top five elected officials of the state. The Division is divided into four programs:
Minerals, Real Estate, Agriculture and Grazing, and Forest Management. Together, these programs generate approximately $80 to $100 million annually for trust beneficiaries.

The Agriculture and Grazing Management Bureau (AGMB) is responsible for the statewide administration and management of the Agricultural and Grazing lease and license programs encompassing approximately 10,000 active agreements on approximately 4.1 million acres of classified grazing land, 600,000 acres of classified forest land, and 555,000 acres of classified agricultural land. Trust revenues generated through these agreements are approximately $23 million to nearly $30 million annually.

The Agricultural Scientist position is part of the Land Management Section (LMS) of the Agriculture and Grazing Management Bureau. The Land Management Section administers the state lands archeological, paleontological, and historical resource programs for the Forestry and Trust Lands Management Divisions. The section administers the Trust lands water right programs, provides technical assistance to other programs about soils, hydrology, and vegetation management, and ensures MEPA compliance for all agricultural and grazing‑related activities.

The LMS also oversees weed management on state trust lands.

LMS responsibilities include oversight of the evaluation and assessment of range and cropland conditions; investigations of lease noncompliance; administering Trust land participation in the Federal Farm Program; and oversight of water developments, water rights, and improvement projects such as range renovations, and resource development; development and negotiation of cash rental rates for agricultural leases; and review of environmental documents prepared under MEPA for all actions proposed for state lands under the Trust Land Division agricultural and grazing management programs.

This position is responsible for oversight of the DNRC agricultural trust land portfolio and serves as support to the Agriculture and Grazing Bureau throughout Montana. This position coordinates with local and statewide personnel to administer best farming management practices, often professionally representing the DNRC to other state and federal agencies, local governments, and the public. This position assists the Land Management Section Supervisor in providing technical assistance to programs on soils, hydrology, and vegetation management with agriculture management issues, as well as statewide support to area and unit land offices pertaining to all programs within the agriculture and grazing Bureau.

The primary location for this position is Helena, MT; other locations may be considered.

This position is the statewide resource and primary contact for agriculture management issues and the oversight of agriculture programs, policies, and procedures on state lands. The position is responsible for developing all statewide directives that guide agricultural management on state trust lands. The position supports the bureau's land management section with agricultural management issues and provides statewide support to area land offices for completing renewal inspections on expiring leases.

The position will oversee the Agronomy Program Management, agriculture data stewardship, and GIS/remote sensing, and also provide training and assistance for field staff.

The incumbent will work in both an office and a field environment. Field duties require exposure to varying, often extreme, weather conditions. Must be able to work independently for long hours in rough,…