Sioux Falls, SD —- South Dakota’s Second Century Habitat Fund (SCHF) has been awarded a grant for $374,400 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the USDA, NRCS, as well as Cargill, General Mills and J.M. Smucker Co. to provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to develop management plans and implement best practices. Producer outreach and technical assistance will be provided collaboratively by Second Century Habitat Fund Inc. and AgSpire Inc.
“The grants announced today not only help conserve our nation’s rich soil, water and wildlife resources, they also strengthen agricultural operations and communities and help farmers improve farming practices in 20 states,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “Robust public-private partnerships like this one are vital to unlocking voluntary conservation at scale and ensuring American farms remain global leaders.”
“The AgSpire team is proud to work with a group of partners that unite around enabling success at the farm and ranch level,” remarked AgSpire CEO Aline DeLucia. “By understanding each producer’s challenges and land, we take an individualized approach to equip them with the best tools for their operation. Being hands-on in our approach to technical assistance helps bring success for implementation of practices over the two-year project period and beyond.”
“This is the first step in our habitat conservation model. Providing technical assistance to the landowner to identify better practices and identifying marginal acres will increase South Dakota’s habitat drastically. This particular grant is for improving grassland health and forage quality, enhancing wildlife and pollinator habitat and increasing biodiversity on grazing land in the Prairie Pothole region of South Dakota. We are able to do such work in partnership with AgSpire’s team of technical advisors” said Brian Bashore, Executive Director of Second Century Habitat Fund Board of Directors.
The Conservation Partners Program Grant of $374,400 is matched by Second Century Habitat Fund with $399,256 of privately raised funds and community partners. To contribute to the Second Century Habitat Fund, in order to continue to leverage these types of grants, visit our website at www.sdhabitatfund.org/donate
About Second Century Habitat Fund, South Dakota
The Second Century Habitat Fund is a nonprofit 501 c3 corporation that works to educate landowners on the importance of grassland to improve pheasant habitat in South Dakota. The Fund is governed by a Board of Directors representing landowners, business owners, pheasant preserve operators, and community leaders across South Dakota.