NFWF announces $14.7 million in grants to bolster regenerative agriculture on working lands

Historic investment from Conservation Partners Program to improve soil health, water quality, carbon storage and wildlife habitat across 21 states

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced 27 grants totaling $14.7 million to support the implementation of voluntary conservation practices on farms and ranches across 21 states from the Midwest to western grasslands. The grants will leverage approximately $7 million in matching contributions from grantees, generating a total impact of $21.7 million. This marks the largest grant slate from the Conservation Partners Program, fueled by continued, historic investments from program partners.

“Private landowners are stewards of some of the most important fish and wildlife habitat in the United States,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “With the support of this public-private partnership, today’s awards will advance essential technical assistance that will promote voluntary efforts by landowners to sustain agricultural operations and to conserve working landscapes that are home to grassland birds, waterfowl, pollinators and other wildlife.”

The Conservation Partners Program is a partnership between NFWF and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, The J.M. Smucker Co., and additional support from a collaboration among General Mills, Walmart and Sam’s Club.

Grant recipients will hire or support field professionals to directly collaborate with agricultural producers to implement economically sound management practices and increase delivery of Farm Bill conservation programs. Projects will also facilitate peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing centered on regenerative agriculture systems.

“We are excited to continue partnering with NFWF on strategic nationwide investments to increase the voluntary adoption of conservation practices on working lands,” said NRCS Chief Terry Cosby. “These efforts will empower networks of American farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to foster long-term economic resilience for their communities while addressing some of the nation’s most pressing conservation issues.”

The 27 funded projects will address resource concerns in the Great Lakes Basin, Great Plains and Upper Mississippi River Basin. In addition, the program expanded funding to western grazing lands, to sustain working grasslands, pasturelands and shrublands that include regions of the Intermountain West, Pacific Northwest and beyond.

“We are proud to continue our work with the Conservation Partners Program,” said Will Meeks, Midwest regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Throughout the Midwest and the Great Lakes basin, this program improves fish and wildlife habitat by providing resources to people who manage working lands. We know that building partnerships with private landowners ensures sustainable landscape-scale conservation.”

“EPA is pleased to support conservation in the agricultural community through this important program with funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Expanding adoption of conservation practices will protect water quality in watersheds throughout the Great Lakes,” said Teresa Seidel, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office.

Grants will fund technical assistance to agricultural producers to plan and implement a range of practices such as cover crops, conservation tillage, grazing management, irrigation improvement, riparian habitat enhancements and conservation easements. Collectively, projects will develop at least 3,000 management plans to improve conservation on more than 700,000 acres nationwide.

“Our partnership with NFWF reflects our commitment to deliver a more sustainable approach to our value chain by working with farmers and leading agricultural organizations in our priority supply chains including corn, wheat and soy,” said Rebecca Ott, Director, Corporate Sustainability, The J.M. Smucker Co. “Through our work with partners like NFWF, we are focused on reducing climate impacts, improving soil health and water quality, and increasing farm resiliency.”

“We believe NFWF’s partnership is essential to advancing critical conservation work for the benefit of all,” said Jay Watson, director of regenerative agriculture, General Mills. “This significant investment from the Conservation Partners Program is critical to achieving our shared goals and creating a more sustainable future.” 

Since 2011, the Conservation Partners Program has awarded 322 grants worth more than $85 million and leveraged an additional $107 million in matching contributions, generating a total conservation investment of more than $192 million. A complete list of the grants announced today is available here. 

PHOTO: Western meadowlark singing on rock. (Adobe Stock │ #411373824 – Jen)