Loan
Rangeland Improvement Loan Program (RILP)
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
What you can get
Up to $100,000 per loan • Low-interest loan (3.25% as of 2026) repaid in annual installments over a maximum 10-year term. Eligible projects: stock water development, cross fencing, grazing systems, reseeding, mechanical renovation, sagebrush management, and weed control. Established 1979 under MCA 76-14-111.
- Readiness
- Local office first
- Who can apply
- producer, Montana residents engaged in farming or ranching who are improving or developing rangeland in Montana and have the expertise to make the loan practical
- Coverage
- MT
- Deadline & timing
- Listed as open on an ongoing basis in the DNRC grants portal. Applicants first consult their local conservation district, which reviews the conservation plan before it goes to DNRC.
Optional expert service · $249
Turn program research into an application package.
An eligibility screen for one farm, a shortlist of up to three relevant programs, and draft practice justifications and a document checklist for one selected application. Delivered within 7 business days after intake.
Last verified Sep 14, 2026. Always confirm current terms and deadlines on the official site before applying.
Plan your next step
Run a quick soil assessment or ask an agronomist how this program fits your fields.