The Matador Ranch

The Grassbank: Protecting a Future for Ranching Families

In 2002, as severe drought gripped eastern Montana, cattle faced starvation and ranchers faced financial ruin. Yet at the Matador Ranch, decades of sustainable grazing had kept forage plentiful. The Nature Conservancy reached out to neighbors with a lifeline—deep discounts on grazing access so ranchers could rest their drought-weary land in exchange for conservation commitments on their own ranches.

At a minimum, grassbank users must control noxious weeds and agree not to till up pristine prairie sod on their property. They receive further discounts if they agree to protect prairie dog towns, secure sage-grouse leks, modify fences to prevent wildlife from becoming entangled or protect nature in other ways.

The grassbank has allowed ranchers to broaden their stewardship in ways that increase benefits to wildlife without reducing the already slim profit margins for ranching. This unique partnership has conserved some of the most important remaining habitat in the nation for grassland birds, pronghorn, prairie dogs and sage-grouse.

Uniting to Save the World's Grasslands

Each year, scientists from universities, tribal colleges, state agencies and non-profits across North America, as well as researchers from as far away as Mongolia, come to the ranch to share the latest knowledge and innovations in grassland conservation. Montana landowners and land management agencies are honored attendees at this annual symposium, ensuring our communities benefit from cutting-edge science and best practices that are helping save grasslands around the world. In addition, the ranch has hosted scientists researching animals as diverse as porcupines, fish, beavers, pronghorn and burrowing owls.

Join rangeland ecologist Kelsey Molloy on a virtual wildflower walk.

Matador Ranch

For information and ranch visits:
4883 Ranch Road, Dodson, MT 59524
Ranch office phone: 406-673-3767
Ranch manager’s email: caitlyn.kelly@tnc.org

Visit Our Matador Ranch Story Map

The Nature Conservancy’s pioneering grassbank evolved in 2002 following severe drought, when ranchers were faced with selling off their herds if they couldn’t find grazing. They found grass at the Matador Ranch, a 60,000-acre expanse of extraordinary mixed-grass prairie in north-central Montana. Ranchers were able to rest their drought-weary grazing lands, and a great partnership with our neighbors was born. Through this unique exchange, hundreds of thousands of acres of working lands at the core of Montana’s ranching heritage have become healthier for wildlife, native plants and people.

This story map takes you on a journey through a year of activity at the ranch. Follow the movement of cattle from our participating grassbank ranchers. Enjoy the abundance of wildflowers in spring. Learn about our efforts to reduce barriers to pronghorn migration in the fall. See how native grasses can help in our fight against climate change, and so much more.