Agriculture is the largest segment of the Montana economy and the dominant land use in the state. Beef cattle production is a vital component of Montana agriculture, with annual beef cattle cash receipts of $1.3 billion. Montana is home to more beef cattle than people, and most all of Montana’s 1.4 million beef cows are raised in forage-based systems on rangelands, pastures, cover crops, and stockpiled hay. Beef cattle grazing occurs in every county and reservation in Montana. Montana State University has a long and distinguished history of working across academic disciplines and working directly with beef cattle producers in Montana and the greater Rocky Mountain West and Northern Great Plains regions. Ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable beef cattle production