Resources
Grasslands Initiative Initial Activities
In July 2023, the South Dakota Grassland Coalition worked with partners to launch the South Dakota Grassland Task Force project, later renamed the South Dakota Grasslands Initiative.
This Report includes an overview of the project’s development and impact in its first 18 months.
Quarterly Partner Newsletters
Stories, information & opportunities from your partners in South Dakota Grassland Conservation
Podcasts
Just like the variety of plants and life on our native grasslands, South Dakota is filled with diverse partners playing a role in supporting those grasslands. Learn about these partners on SD Grasslands Initiative’s podcast, Partners on the Prairie, where each episode will allow you to learn about those impacting South Dakota.
Interested in sharing about your organization through a Partners on the Prairie Podcast? Fill out the form at this link.
Partners on the Prairie Podcast
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Earth Optics is a soil data and mapping company that provides data on your land. Ryan Dierking joins our podcast to delve into what is happening in the world of soil data collection, and how producers and partners can use these resources for planning on grassland operations. To connect with Ryan directly, email ryan.dierking@earthoptics.com |
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The Wildlife Society is a national organization focused on empowering wildlife professionals to advance conservation through science, community and professional excellence. In South Dakota, a chapter exists to support professionals in our state while also promoting stewardship and appreciation of wildlife. In this episode, chapter treasurer and secretary, Mandy Pearson is shares about the purpose and accomplishments of the organization. |
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The Society for Range Management is an international organzation for professionals and rangeland users who are concerned with studying, conserving, managing and sustaining the various rangelands worldwide. In South Dakota, the chapter is especially focused on supporting grassland education for youth. In this episode, Jeff Vander Wilt shares about the South Dakota SRM chapter, and their work. |
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Prairie Pothole Joint Ventures (PPJV) is one of two Joint Ventures that works in South Dakota to support healthy grasslands and bird habitats. PPJV Coordinator, Lauri Hanauska-Brown shares about the unique ways Prairie Pothole Joint Ventures is working to support community-based conservation. |
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SnapLands is a Colorado based ecological accounting and rangeland monitoring company that partners with managers intentionally seeking strategies to maximize long term profit and healthy ecosystems. Ryan White, CEO and founder of Snaplands, shares how landowners and producers can work with a company like SnapLands to improve their recordkeeping, productivity, and profitability of their land. |
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Based out of South Dakota, Ecdysis is a research 501c3 that works with farmers and ranchers across the United States and Canada to research how stewards of the land can be innovative to produce food and fiber while working with their environments. Jonathan Lundgren, founder and director of Ecdysis shares about their 1,000 Farms Initiative and work at Blue Dasher Farm. |
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South Dakota’s Ag Land Trust is a non-profit organization focused on providing South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers with a conservation organization that understands their business. They have a mission of conserving South Dakota’s agricultural heritage and working landscapes for the benefit of future generations through voluntary, incentive-based methods. |
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The mission of the South Dakota Grassland Coalition is to improve the stewardship of grasslands through sustainable and profitable management. Their board is made up of landowners who collaborate with partners to support their mission and were one of the instrumental groups in launching the South Dakota Grasslands Initiative. On this episode, we’re joined by former board member, Rod Baumberger, current board member Bart Carmichael, and executive director, Judge Jessop to learn about the start of the Grassland Coalition and their continuing work. |
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This episode provides an introduction to the Xerces Society, and the work that they are doing to support pollinators. This episode highlights work that Xerces is collaborating with partners on to show how the forbs needed by pollinators are also beneficial to livestock. Rae also shares how listeners can get involved with the Bumble Bee Atlas. Rae Powers is a Pollinator Conservation Specialist and NRCS Partner Biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in South Dakota and Nebraska. Kaylee Wheeler with SDSU Extension also shares about a project that she and other partners are working with Xerces on. |
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The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is a non-profit organization focused on conserving birds and their habitats through science, education, and land stewardship. On this episode Angela Dwyer, Program Manager, and Kristin May, Wildlife Habitat Biologist share how What’s Good for the Herd is Good for the Birds |
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Kateri is one option for grassland producers looking for a company to help them make money with carbon credits for implementing sustainable practices. James Hunt, project manager with Kateri, give an overview of the process, and why working grasslands are important to the carbon credit market. |
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Kurt Forman, South Dakota’s Partners for Fish & Wildlife Coordinator shares about this program. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land. |
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The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition is a producer-led nonprofit, with a staff & board of individuals dedicated to their mission of promoting improved soil heath. The Coalition director Cindy Zenk, and two board members, Shawn Freeland and Doug Sieck, shared about what the Soil Health Coalition is and some of the resources they provide. |
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South Dakota’s Game, Fish & Parks is perhaps one of the more well known entities in the state that is focused on preserving the habitat and species for South Dakota. On this episode Mark Norton, Hunting Access & Farm Bill Coordinator, and Eric Magedanz, senior private lands habitat biologist, share about what GFP is doing, and what programs they offer for landowners & partners. |
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Clayton Lenk is the National Wild Turkey Federation biologist for several states, including South Dakota. One key focus of the National Wild Turkey Federation is to maintain habitat for wild turkeys, as well as the many other species that depend on conservation. |
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Catherine Wightman, coordinator for Northern Great Plains Joint Venture, shares about the unique role that she and her team play to support the communities that depend on grasslands in South Dakota, and surrounding areas. |
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Lori Brown, TNC riparian health program manager, and Joe Blastic, TNC Prairie Coteau conservation coordinator, share about The Nature Conservancy’s focus and work in South Dakota. |
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Josh Lefers works with Audubon Great Plains which has a mission to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. In South Dakota, much of his work focuses on programs to support grassland bird habitats. |
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Bruce Toay, who manages the conservation programs in South Dakota, shares about the on the ground work that Ducks Unlimited offers in South Dakota. |
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Travis Entenman, executive director of Northern Prairies Land Trust, shares how landowners can use Northern Prairies Land Trust’s voluntary conservation easements. |
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Tanse Herrmann, state grazing lands soil health specialist for South Dakota NRCS, shares about what NRCS can offer for partners, and about how their Rainfall Simulator can be used to demonstrate the 5 soil health principles. Tanse Hermann can be contacted directly at tanse.herrmann@usda.gov or (605) 515-9791. |
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Jamie Risse and Jared Hohn with Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary share how they support goals of Presentation Sisters through restoring native grasslands and providing grassland education. Learn more at presentationsisters.org/new-integral-ecology-ministry/ |
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SDGI Workgroup Resources
The Grassland Education Workgroup has grab & go activities to provide hands-on lessons about the grasslands. These activities are available as totes with the materials and instructions for multiple activities designed to help children better understand and connect with the grassland ecosystem that is a core part of South Dakota. These activities have been selected and developed as hands-on activities that could be applicable to all ages
and are most appropriate for early elementary.
Click HERE for a complete overview and description of the materials included in the totes.
The totes are available to check out from the following locations (Click the location to request totes):
SD Grasslands Initiative Considerations on USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
What is CRP?
A voluntary conservation program that offers agricultural producers who agree to 10 to 15 year contracts with an annual rental payment in exchange for planting and/or maintaining approved perennial vegetation for the contract term on eligible farmland.
Concurrent Resolution 605
During 2024’s session, both the South Dakota House (Yeas 63, Nays 1) and Senate (Yeas 33, Nays 0) approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 605 affirming the value of grassland ecosystems and the importance of farmers and ranchers as managers.
Thank you to the bill’s sponsors: Senators Larson (
2024 South Dakota Legislature
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Affirming the value of grassland ecosystems and the importance of farmers and ranchers as managers.
WHEREAS, it is the right of all South Dakotans to have access to clean water, clean air, and healthy landscapes; and
WHEREAS, there is an obligation to leave a net positive land legacy to future generations; and
WHEREAS, grassland ecosystems comprise one of the earth’s dominant biomes, covering up to forty percent of its terrestrial area; and
WHEREAS, grassland ecosystems improve water quality, increase filtration, and reduce runoff and flooding; and
WHEREAS, grassland ecosystems are essential to maintaining biodiversity, providing important habitat for myriad native wildlife, pollinators, livestock, and game animals; and
WHEREAS, the deep, living roots of a grassland ecosystem and native prairie allow for significant carbon storage and reduce nitrogen loss in the soil; and
WHEREAS, new opportunities for innovation and research in grassland management, soil health, and native prairie restoration for future generation are emergent; and
WHEREAS, ranchers increasingly use managed grazing and regenerative soil practices to ensure the sustainability of this ecosystem for future generations:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the Ninety-Ninth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the grassland ecosystem of the Great Plains of North America can be part of the solution to improve water quality, support biodiversity, sequester carbon, maintain healthy soil, and provide habitat for wildlife, and that farmers and ranchers are crucial in conserving grassland ecosystems.
For more details, visit https://sdlegislature.
The United Nations recognize 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Visit their website and learn how you can be involved in celebrating and bringing recognition to this event, including supporting a documentary film being developed in North America.