Montana ACR Pilot Project Connects Ranchers to New Market Opportunities

This winter, a pilot project went off without a hitch when 63 cull cows from 3 Audubon Certified ranches in Montana were sent to a processor for Blue Nest Beef, a nationwide retailer which sources cattle exclusively from Audubon Certified ranches. The first load left Big Timber, MT, in January. Standard Soil, Audubon’s commercial and logistics partner, purchased the cattle and provided shipping, logistics, and processing. This pilot collaboration materialized when the partners met at the Western Sustainability Exchange’s (WSE) Expanding Markets Conference held at Bighorn Resort in Billings this Fall.

“Expanding markets for Montana producers is a major goal of Montana Audubon and WSE. Helping regenerative ranchers to make market connections promotes good land stewardship, animal welfare, and biodiversity, and connects people to good food,” said Christian Meny, Montana Audubon’s Director of Conservation.

Read the full article on the Western Sustainability Exchange website:
Montana Audubon and Blue Nest Beef Collaborate to Open New Cull Cow Market Opportunity for Ranchers

For more information:

• Audubon Conservation Ranching

Learn more about ACR in Montana:

• ACR on the road: Expanding Markets Conference
• Conservation Ranching: Conserving and reviving rangelands with bird-friendly grazing
• Audubon Conservation Ranching- MT DEQ funds Truman Creek restoration at MT Better Beef Ranch
• Audubon and partners announce first bird-friendly certified bison ranch in Montana

This project is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with support from the Cornell Douglas Foundation.