The Idaho Range Improvement Act (House Bill 468) gives the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) the authority to seek out willing partners and develop projects that benefit Idaho’s rangelands and producers.

This act allows ISDA range staff to assist in project development, implementation, and monitoring of range improvement projects that benefit wildlife, watersheds, and livestock operations. The state sees this program as an opportunity to be more involved in maintaining and enhancing Idaho’s rangelands which benefits both the ecosystem and the economy of the state

Potential Projects
  1. Rangeland improvements and maintenance.
    1. Water Developments
    2. Traditional Fencing 
    3. Virtual Fencing
  2. The control of predatory and depredating animals.
  3. The control, management, or extermination of invading species, rangeland damaging organisms, and poisonous or noxious weeds. 
  4. Any other management tool that benefits a grazing district.
  5. Watershed protection, development, distribution, and improvement.
  6. The general welfare of livestock grazing within a grazing district.

Information and Instructions

You will need to work with an IGIP Regional Coordinator in developing your project and filling out this application. 

Thadd Strom

Range Program Manager

Boise, Idaho 83712

Office: (208) 332-8561

Cell: (208) 258-5725

thadd.strom@isda.idaho.gov

Taylor Trudeau

Western Idaho Range Specialist

Boise, Idaho 83712

Office: (208) 332-8566

Cell: (208) 954-1002

taylor.trudeau@isda.idaho.gov

John Leavell

Eastern Idaho Range Specialist

Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401

Cell: (208) 917-0762

john.leavell@isda.idaho.gov

Projects can include any work that will improve rangeland health, productivity, and management. This may include but is not limited to water developments, traditional fencing, virtual fencing, seeding, invasive species control, or changes to the grazing system.

Project goals and measurable objectives are required for each project. These objectives, as well as effective monitoring methods to measure progress toward them, will be important for project approval.

Completion of an application does not guarantee selection for funding. Selection of successful proposals will be largely up to the IGIP Grazing Board Central Committee and the Director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.