Montana Code 76-14-114. Criteria for evaluation of loan applications
76-14-114. Criteria for evaluation of loan applications. The following criteria must be considered in selecting loan recipients:
Terms Used In Montana Code 76-14-114
- Range condition: means the current condition of the vegetation on a range site in relation to the natural potential plant community for that site. See Montana Code 76-14-103
- Rangeland: means land on which the native vegetation (climax or natural potential) is predominantly grasses, grasslike plants, forbs, or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing use. See Montana Code 76-14-103
- Tame pastureland: means land that has been modified by mechanical cultivation and that has current vegetation consisting of native or introduced species, or both. See Montana Code 76-14-103
(1)Loan applications must be ranked according to the following priorities:
(a)Range improvement or development projects undertaken on native rangeland, resulting in the improvement of native range condition and of benefit to more than a single operator, have first priority.
(b)Range improvement or development projects undertaken on native rangeland, resulting in the improvement of native range condition but of benefit to only a single operator, have second priority.
(c)Range improvement or development projects undertaken on either native rangeland or tame pastureland used in conjunction with native rangeland, or both, resulting in the improvement of native range condition and the condition of the tame pastureland used in conjunction with native rangeland, have third priority.
(d)Range improvement or development projects undertaken on tame pastureland, resulting in the improvement of the tame pastureland exclusively, have fourth priority.
(e)Range improvement or development projects undertaken to return to rangeland status land that was once native rangeland and that has since been cultivated have fifth priority.
(2)Consideration must be given to the number of related resources that will benefit, including but not limited to water quality, wildlife habitat, and soil conservation.
(3)Consideration must be given to the amount of funding from other sources.
(4)Consideration must be given to the feasibility and practicality of the project.