IDEAL — On the rolling plains southwest of Chamberlain lies a 30-square-mile farm and ranch that serves as a testament to the power of soil health practices.
Ask a rancher how they reduce stress and improve their grazing and rangeland health, and they’ll quickly cite talking to other ranchers and attending grazing improvement events.
New incentives from the USDA aim to encourage farmers to employ 'climate smart' practices. However, those who've employed sustainable methods say they won't see those incentive dollars.
The North American Grasslands Conservation Act would authorize about $300 million in federal spending annually for several years to incentivize states, landowners and tribes to restore and conserve grasslands.
A federal program pays farmers to keep marginal land out of crop production, and South Dakota enrollments are higher than they’ve been since the 1990s.That helps wildlife and the environment. But market forces could reverse the trend.