Goat Grazing and Conservation

For landowners looking for an innovative approach to weed management, fuel reduction, riparian vegetation management, or restoring overgrown properties, targeted goat grazing offers a unique conservation tool.

Will Powell grew up in St. Ignatius, where his family has long raised cattle. After attending Montana State University, he returned home and now works as a farrier while operating his growing goat grazing business, Weed Eaters LLC.

From May through October, Powell spends his summers hauling goats from job to job across western Montana, helping landowners naturally manage unwanted vegetation.

“It’s crazy how many people are out there looking for our service,” Powell said.

His goats work throughout the Mission Valley, from Missoula to Polson, completing roughly 20 to 30 grazing projects each year. Over the past four years, his herd has grown to about 400 goats, including 200 does and 200 kids, with another 100 goats expected this fall.

Around Mission, because of the frequent rain and more lush vegetation, Will has found a typical herd can clear about five acres in roughly 10 days, depending on the vegetation and the landowner’s goals.

Every project begins with a site visit. Powell evaluates the vegetation, discusses the landowner’s goals, determines whether the property is a good fit for targeted grazing, and provides a cost estimate before scheduling the work. Once the goats arrive, he unloads the herd, sets up portable electric fencing, and lets the animals get to work.

Unlike cattle, goats are true browsers. Rather than preferring grass, they naturally seek out shrubs, brush, woody plants, vines, leaves, and broadleaf weeds. This makes them particularly effective at controlling many invasive and nuisance plant species while leaving desirable grasses behind.

Because goats selectively browse vegetation instead of uniformly grazing a pasture, they can reach areas that are difficult for machinery to access and often reduce the need for repeated mowing or herbicide applications. Their browsing habits also make them especially useful on steep hillsides, rocky terrain, and in riparian areas where traditional vegetation management methods can be challenging.

Although Powell originally started the business as a practical solution for managing unwanted vegetation on his own property and filling a need in the community, he quickly discovered that targeted goat grazing provides a wide range of conservation benefits.

The goats consume dense brush and overgrown vegetation that can become wildfire fuel, helping reduce fire risk around homes and communities. They offer landowners an alternative to herbicides, especially near streams and shorelines where chemical applications may be undesirable. Their manure naturally returns nutrients and organic matter to the soil, while repeated targeted grazing can encourage healthier plant communities over time.

“I like to try and do things more naturally if we can,” Powell said. “If we can do something without spraying, let’s do it. If we can do it without the tractor, let’s do it. Without digging the ground up, let’s do it. That’s what the goats have proven to be.”

Goats also have a lighter impact on streambanks than larger livestock, making them a valuable option for managing vegetation in riparian areas when properly managed.

One of Powell’s favorite parts of the job is seeing the transformation after the goats leave. On his own property, land that was once overrun with weeds has become healthy pasture after several seasons of targeted grazing. He has seen similar results on customer properties throughout the Mission Valley, and those success stories have helped spread the word. Many landowners now hire Powell year after year.

As interest in sustainable land management continues to grow, targeted grazing is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for private landowners, conservation organizations, and communities looking for practical alternatives to traditional vegetation management.

Whether the goal is controlling invasive weeds, reducing wildfire fuels, restoring overgrown pasture, or managing vegetation in sensitive riparian areas, Powell’s herd demonstrates how working with nature can benefit both the land and the people who steward it.

Interested in learning more about targeted goat grazing?

Will Powell – Weed Eaters LLC
Service Area: Mission Valley, from Missoula to Polson
Phone: (406) 210-4011
Instagram: @weed_eater_llc