More than 130 counties, tribes, conservation districts, communities and educators in Montana have been awarded funds to develop and implement noxious weed management programs.

A state council recently announced the recipients of over $2 million awarded through the Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund grant program.

“I was very impressed with the quality of projects submitted to the noxious weed grant program this year,” said Mike Foster, director of the state Department of Agriculture. “These projects play a crucial role in preserving agricultural lands and livelihoods here in Montana, and I’m looking forward to seeing their work in action.”

The Montana Legislature established the trust fund in 1985. An advisory council reviews requests and applicant testimony and recommends recipients to the director.

The state will begin taking applications for 2022 grants in July.