As a small nonprofit organization serving Montana’s noxious weed management community, the Montana Weed Control Association (MWCA) has experienced firsthand the effects of federal funding reductions and restrictions.
Beginning in early 2024, we saw a significant reduction in participation from federal land managers, including the loss of seasonal, on-the-ground employees with the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. These employees are an important part of the workforce managing noxious weeds on Montana’s public lands.
The impact has also directly affected our nonprofit. Federal employees have faced restrictions on attending conferences and trainings, maintaining organizational memberships, and purchasing educational materials. MWCA’s annual conference is one of the primary opportunities for weed managers across Montana to share information, learn about new management practices, and build partnerships. In one instance, we had to change the title of our conference to a “training” simply so federal employees could attend.
We have also seen a substantial decline in publication orders from federal agencies because of purchasing restrictions and increasingly cumbersome processes. For a small nonprofit like MWCA, these lost memberships, registrations, and publication sales have a real financial impact. More importantly, they reduce our ability to provide the education and resources that weed managers need.
The consequences extend well beyond MWCA. The BLM and U.S. Forest Service manage approximately 25.3 million acres in Montana. Noxious weeds on those lands do not stay on federal property. They spread to state, county, tribal, and private lands, creating greater environmental and economic costs for Montana.
As a nonprofit dedicated to education and collaboration in noxious weed management, MWCA believes that maintaining strong partnerships, a trained workforce, and access to critical educational resources is essential to protecting Montana’s land and natural resources.
Federal funding decisions are not simply an issue for federal agencies. They have a direct impact on Montana nonprofits, Montana communities, and our ability to address one of the state’s most persistent natural resource challenges.
Becky Kington
MWCA Executive Director
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