Applications for the 2016 Noxious Weed Trust Fund Local Cooperative funding opportunity are due by December 1, 2015.

The 2016 Continuing - Local Cooperative funding opportunity is for Local Cooperative projects that have previously been funded by the Noxious Weed Trust Fund and have a minimum of three cooperating, adjacent landowners. 

Applicants must contact and work with an organization, such as a weed district, conservation district, extension office, or tribe to be the funding recipient for grant dollars.  Noxious Weed Trust Fund grants are a reimbursement type of grant. 

All grant applications should complement and enhance the Montana Weed Management Plan.  Additional information can be found in the Noxious Weed Trust Fund Grant Guidelines and on the Montana Department of Agriculture website.

The Noxious Weed Trust Fund grant program provides 50:50 cost-share for herbicides, commercial applicators, and re-seeding mixtures.  Projects will be funded only if matching funds are available from the participating cooperators.  The maximum grant dollar request is $75,000 per application.  The grant application deadline is midnight on December 1, 2015.

All local cooperative grant applications must attach a readable project map with the township and range identified along with cities and towns.

Participating landowners should have a committed dollar amount for the acres to be treated in the coming year, prior to grant submission.  This summarized information is used on the Herbicide Worksheet form.  Prior to submitting an application, project participants should have completed:

• weed mapping of target noxioius weed infestations (GPS or hand drawn),
• one year of cooperative work within the weed management area, and
• identified a project coordinator.

The Trust Fund cannot fund:

• capital improvement projects or annual herbicide for cropland or CRP practices,
• equipment needs for the project participants,
• biological control agents for landowners due to the Trust Fund supporting school insectaries, and
• any costs associated with grant writing or expenses to attend the grant hearings in Helena, MT.