MEMPHIS, Tenn. - April 22, 2021 - Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Elanco Animal Health have partnered to further the relationship between environmental sustainability and beef cattle production throughout North America. Elanco will invest $50,000 annually with Ducks Unlimited (DU) through 2023, supporting grass reseeding efforts on working lands in western Kansas.

DU is committed to working in programs with the farming and ranching community to improve environmental conditions for waterfowl, agriculture and livestock.

"Farmers and ranchers were the first land stewards - hardworking men and women who understood the synergy between wildlife habitat and working lands,&dquo; said Ducks Unlimited CEO

Adam Putnam. "The continent&squo;s migratory waterfowl - and Ducks Unlimited&squo;s core mission - rely on healthy grasslands and intermittent wetlands that have long supported grazing. Our partnership represents the strong bond between conservation and agriculture across North America.&dquo;

The grassland restoration initiative is part of the existing State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) project. SAFE is an existing collaboration between the Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency and DU with the goal of restoring grasslands and protecting embedded playa wetlands in western Kansas. At least 1,000 acres will be reseeded through the duration of this partnership with Elanco&squo;s contribution.

"Elanco&squo;s partnership with Ducks Unlimited further elevates the critical role healthy animals play in supporting a healthy environment,&dquo; said Jeff Simmons, Elanco president and CEO. "We are excited to partner with Ducks Unlimited and the organization&squo;s work through the SAFE project in Kansas, as we know animals are part of the sustainability solution - not the issue.&dquo;

Working directly with agriculture is vitally important to DU&squo;s mission. Waterfowl and wetlands conservation depend on multiple partnerships and helping the North American agricultural infrastructure achieve their goals while also achieving DU&squo;s is a winning combination.

"Elanco and Ducks Unlimited both understand that beef cattle play a significant role in grassland management,&dquo; said Dr. Sara Place, chief sustainability officer at Elanco. "The beef cattle industry has made great strides in advancing its environmental stewardship to date, and we are dedicated to working with beef producers and industry leaders to continue these advancements. This partnership is one example of that commitment at work.&dquo;

For more information visit www.ducks.org and be sure to follow DU&squo;s Twitter feed - @DUNews1937 - to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited 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 www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:

John Gordon

901-758-3753

jgordon@ducks.org