Noxious Weed Trust Fund (NWTF) Grant Program

Noxious Weed Trust Fund (NWTF) Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Montana Department of Agriculture
Amount: Up to US $75,000
Last Updated: November 22, 2025

Summary

The Noxious Weed Trust Fund (NWTF) Grant Program, established in 1985 by the Montana Legislature, provides up to $75,000 for noxious weed management programs. It supports local cooperative projects, research, and educational initiatives aimed at effective weed control. Eligible applicants must collaborate with organizations such as county and tribal weed districts. Grant funds cannot be used for administrative costs or equipment purchases, ensuring focus on impactful weed management efforts across Montana.

Overview

The Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund (NWTF) Grant Program was established by the 1985 Montana Legislature to provide funding for the development and implementation of weed management programs. Grant awards of up to $75,000 are available for noxious weed research projects, state and community education/development projects, and local cooperative - landowner cost share grants. Specific Project Types Local Cooperative Projects (New and Continuing) Local Cooperative projects involve on the ground treatment of noxious weeds and require the participation of a minimum of three adjacent landowners. Participating landowners will develop a cooperative weed management area, map noxious weeds in the project area, develop long term weed control plans and must have a committed dollar amount for treatment prior to application submission. Local Cooperative projects are required to have a minimum of 50% hard match for commercial application, herbicide, and revegetation costs. Administrative costs are available for Local Cooperative project coordinators that have not received a Special County/Reservation Grant. Local Cooperative projects should: support the State Weed Management Plan and meet Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) criteria,adhere closely to herbicide costs listed in the State Term Contract for Agricultural Chemicals,have measurable objectives that describe how renewable resources will be enhanced,utilize appropriate integrated management techniques,provide a time schedule for beginning and completing all phases of the project,incorporate an annual monitoring plan to effectively track progress, andprovide educational opportunities for land managers. New Local Cooperative projects require completion of an environmental assessment (EA) for the project area. EA requirements under the Noxious Weed Trust Fund Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (May 2010) include: General Vegetation.Soils (includes soil maps).Ground and Surface Water (includes project maps and well locations).Air quality.Habitat of fish & wildlife.Threatened, endangered and species of concern (includes list of animals from MNHP or FWP).Historical and archeological sites (includes a letter from the Montana Historical Society). Research Projects Research projects may include chemical, non-chemical, biological, and integrated approaches to weed control. Creative proposals for investigating new weed management techniques are encouraged. Matching funds are not required and any in-kind match or forgone indirect costs can be noted in the application. Research projects should: Support the State Weed Management Plan.Be developed in cooperation with land managers to address land management needs.Increase knowledge of noxious weeds and/or improve an important aspect of noxious weed management.Enhance a new or existing method of weed management.Provide the foundation for a positive long term effect on threatened natural resources.Contain specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely project objectives.Explain the purpose of the research, what research has been done in the past, and what improvement and/or increased knowledge the project will produce.Effectively disseminate project results to end users.Provide a time schedule for beginning and completing all phases of the project. Applicants are encouraged to contact the State Biological Control Coordinator to discuss and collaborate on biological control components of the project. Education/Development Projects Education/Development projects include mapping, monitoring, planning, and education. Matching funds are not required and any in-kind match or forgone indirect costs can be noted in the application. Education/Development projects should: Support the State Weed Management Plan.Build partnerships and include collaborative resources from weed management resources.Promote public awareness about noxious weed impacts and illustrate opportunities for action.Be based on sound ecological principles.Include a detailed action plan of how the project will be completed.Contain specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely project objectives.Specify how project success will be monitored and measured, including long-term evaluation.Provide a time schedule for beginning and completing all phases of the project. Applicants are encouraged to contact the State Education Coordinator to discuss and collaborate on educational components of the project.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grant applicants collaborate with an organization, such as those listed below, that will administer the grant and serve as the recipient for funding reimbursements from the NWTF.County Weed District.Tribal Weed District.Extension Service.Educational Institution.Conservation District.Other Established Organizations.Local Cooperative Projects (Continuing and New): Local Cooperative projects are required to have a minimum of 50% hard match for commercial application, herbicide, and revegetation costs. Projects are funded only if matching funds are available from grantees.

Ineligibility

Noxious Weed Trust Fund grant funds may not be used for:Application expenditures - developing grant proposals, grant hearing travel expensePurchase of publicationsPurchase of biocontrol agentsEquipment purchasesProject administration or indirect costsCapital improvementsAnnual herbicide for cropland/CRP practicesRe-seeding efforts for alfalfa fields, grain for wildlife habitat, or other cropland situations