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Ducks Unlimited in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

Scaling Soil Health in the Prairie Pothole Region RCPP is a voluntary program that contracts with agricultural producers to help improve soil health, establish grasslands, and enhance rotational grazing capacity on working lands in North Dakota. This program prioritizes the establishment of grasslands and enhancement of existing grazing systems. Areas with high densities of wetlands will be emphasized. Successful applicants will develop 3-5 year management plans to achieve objectives. Applicants will also be expected to collaborate with project partners to collect and share data associated with applied practices, and to attend learning opportunities to maximize benefits achieved from applied conservation practices.

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Eligibility
This RCPP is available in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota. Areas having the highest wetland densities will be prioritized. The primary focus is planting marginal cropland to diverse native perennial grasses and enhancing grasslands through grazing.

Approved Practices

  • Conservation cover (native grasses and forbs)
  • Fencing
  • Hay and pasture planting (native and tame grasses and forbs)
  • Livestock pipeline
  • Heavy use protection
  • Pumping plant
  • Range Planting (native grasses and forbs)
  • Water well
  • Watering facility
  • Herbaceous weed treatment

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Payments
Under RCPP, eligible participants will receive cost-share assistance on approved practices. During the first three years of native grass establishment, producers are eligible to receive a rental payment as the land transitions from cropland to grazing land.

 

For more information or to apply, contact:
Sam Krohn
701.934.1635
skrohn@ducks.org