Minnesota’s State Lottery Funds Grasslands Restoration
Nearly $2.3 million will be invested in native forages on working lands to improve climate resiliency
August 26, 2024 •
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Ducks Unlimited’s (DU) Minnesota grazing program received a $2.254 million funding recommendation from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The money is provided by the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). This is a lottery tax fund allocated annually by the state legislature to support natural resource projects across Minnesota.
The proposal “Native Forages: Growing Drought and Climate Resiliency” will focus on incorporating native forages into northwest and central Minnesota livestock operations. It was one of 125 included in the LCCMR recommendation following its 2025 Request for Proposals, which sought projects across several priority areas, including foundational data and information, water resources, environmental education, invasive species, renewable energy, methods to protect and restore habitat, habitat protection and outdoor recreation. The LCCMR will meet this winter to finalize the recommendations.
DU’s work will incorporate native grasses and forbs on working lands to improve climate resiliency (carbon storage) during extreme weather events such as drought and flooding. Additionally, native forages benefit water, soil, and wildlife.
“We cannot accomplish our conservation goals without the help of Minnesota’s farmers and ranchers,” said Sabrina Claeys, DU’s grazing biologist in western Minnesota. “They manage over 50% of the land in this state, so it’s critical that DU works with producers. There is an ecological and operational benefit to incorporating native forages into farming operations. Creating sustainable grasslands is a win-win for conservation and agriculture.”
DU will assist livestock producers in converting marginal cropland or pastures planted with introduced cool-season grasses to a diverse mixture of native grasses and forbs. Native forages are crucial for nesting waterfowl. These pastures will be folded into farming operations and maintained through livestock grazing.
“Native grasslands retain more water, so they thrive even in a drought,” Claeys said. "With proper rotational grazing practices, ranchers can graze their land longer, reducing feed costs, and improving the overall health of livestock."
