Grass grows on the Missouri River bluffs above Chamberlain on Sept. 20, 2024. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)
Six projects in South Dakota will receive a combined $83 million in grants from the federal government for grassland conservation and climate-smart agricultural practices, according to a recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The biggest award in South Dakota is $24 million to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. Their project will fight the encroachment of eastern redcedar on grasslands by using prescribed fire to target the trees and by planting prairie grasses. The effort includes prescribed fire on 50,000 acres and other efforts to help landowners fight eastern redcedar encroachment on another 75,000 acres.
The area of focus includes lands along the Missouri, James and White River watersheds. Partners include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks; and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
South Dakota ranks fourth in 2024 grassland conservation enrollments