DU Offering Incentives for Soil Health and Grazing Programs

Ducks Unlimited (DU), in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced the opening of the second application process of their collaborative Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The initiative, Scaling Soil Health in the Prairie Pothole Region, provides voluntary conservation incentives to farmers and ranchers looking to improve soil health, restore grasslands, and improve rotational grazing capacity for livestock on their properties.

Interested participants in the 34 east river counties of South Dakota have until March 31 to submit their application. Applications will be prioritized by projects that would include a transition to regenerative agriculture systems and incorporate large tracts of restored grasslands.

In 2022, DU received 14 applications from interested farmers and ranchers. After the ranking of applications, five projects were selected for funding in the program’s inaugural year. These projects will potentially impact 6,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and croplands and provide financial assistance to implement 5-year conservation plans. Ducks Unlimited conservation staff are providing technical assistance and the organization is responsible for program delivery under the Alternative Funding Arrangement.

“Our goal is to provide flexibility through RCPP and to complement the delivery of USDA conservation programs,” says DU Biologist, Cassie Auxt. “Initial feedback indicates that our options for grassland restoration are very attractive from a livestock producer’s perspective.”

Farmers and ranchers interested in this new opportunity can reach out to Bruce Toay, DU, at (605) 380-0684 or btoay@ducks.org for additional details or to request an application.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, DU has conserved more than 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow, and forever. For more information on our work, visit https://www.ducks.org/.