From Ashes to Innovation: How Virtual Fence is Changing Post-fire Ranching
The Moose Fire burned thousands of acres of the Smith family’s federal grazing allotment to ash. But thanks to an experiment with virtual fencing, they were able to graze the
Little Creek Feed: More than a feedstore
On the edge of Townsend, Montana, alongside South Front Street (Highway 287), a new, or rather very old, kind of feed store has taken root. Little Creek Feed isn’t just
What’s next for the Farm Bill?
The Farm Bill. A piece of legislation that quietly shapes much of life in this country - especially for those of us in rural America. The Farm Bill influences everything
Page Burners: The Big Burn by Timothy Egan
Elegantly written and abundantly informative, Timothy Egan’s The Big Burn tells the dramatic story of the 1910 wildfire that tore through Washington, Idaho, and Montana, burning over 3 million acres
Page Burners: Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean
Few nonfiction wildfire books capture a moment in fire history as vividly as Young Men and Fire. With the precision of an archivist and the heart of a storyteller, Norman
Page Burners: This is Wildfire by Nick Mott
As my wife and I begin building our home in rural Montana, wildfire resilience has been central to our planning. Rather than sift through AI-generated misinformation online, I’ve been turning
Era of megafire hits close to home
It was 1997 when I first heard Dr. Craig D. Allen, a research ecologist, make an alarming prediction. I had just taken a job managing a large, forested headwaters ranch
Defensible Space — Keeping Your Home on the Range Safe
As wildfires become more frequent and intense, protecting your home is more important than ever - whether you live in town or out on the ranch. “Our fire issue isn’t
House Money
This sagebrush ecosystem in Idaho has been fully invaded by cheatgrass. Right: Charred fenceposts and brittle wire make fences a major rebuilding expense for working lands post-fire.
Fighting fires safely and responsibly
T he sign outside the Valley Fire District in Granite County, Montana, jokingly touts “Same Day Service since 1876.” Of course, the Valley Fire District, like fire protection districts across the
Community wildfire readiness: What landowners need to know
Across the West, as suburban sprawl, working lands and wilderness collide, many communities now have Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). The 2003 Healthy Forest Restoration Act encouraged these plans in
Failing to Deliver
Painfully drawn-out claims process adds another scar after New Mexico’s largest-ever fire Hell. That’s how Max Garcia, a farmer and rancher from Rociada, New Mexico, describes not only the wildfire that swept