NORTH DAKOTA OUTDOORS MAGAZINE

Leaving a Legacy

Ron Wilson

In late January, Gov. Kelly Armstrong introduced a cooperative effort to improve soil health and wildlife habitat on marginally productive cropland across North Dakota’s rural landscape.

The goal of the Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program is to help North Dakota farmers strengthen cropland productivity and resilience with perennial grass cover, while improving soil health, water retention and creating much-needed wildlife habitat and access to hunters.

“This joint effort will help preserve and promote our rich heritage of farming and hunting for generations to come, while also showcasing the spirit of cooperation that makes North Dakota special,” Armstrong said. “Healthy soils and wildlife habitat are essential to our strong economy and the unmatched quality of life that makes North Dakota the best place to live, work and raise a family. We appreciate the ag, conservation, hunting and energy stakeholders who worked with Game and Fish and the soil conservation districts to make this program possible with Outdoor Heritage Fund support.”

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department partnered with the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts who secured a $4.3 million Outdoor Heritage Fund grant to pilot the effort. That money has been teamed with nearly $2.1 million in cash, in-kind and partner contributions.

The aim of the program, which received broad support from agricultural groups and others before its unveiling, is to eventually seek dedicated funding to execute the program on a larger scale.

Pheasant in grass behind a fence

“We want this program to be a positive experience for landowners and stakeholders involved. There are always various other programs or grant opportunities we might look into if they align with the Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat program,” said Rhonda Kelsch, executive director of the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts. “But overall, our hope is that landowners in North Dakota see the importance for soil health and conservation and habitat development in the state. Also, by working with our legislators and demonstrating the need and the funding required for this program to be successful would lead into a revolving conservation fund for the state of North Dakota.”

Kelsch said the Legacy program will be administered by the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts, with local delivery through soil conservation districts and partners.

To start, the plan is to establish 10,000 acres of perennial grass cover on cropland throughout the state.

“The intent of the program is not to take productive land out of production and seed everything back into grass. We are looking more into the fragmented acres, riparian acres, acres around a wetland,” Kelsch said. “We have not set a direct cap on the acre enrollment per producer … that will be taken into a case-by-case basis.”

Program details include 5-year agreements to establish and manage grass; annual rental payment based on the average county rental rate; cost-share for grass seed and seeding ($50 per acre for seed and $50 per acre for establishment); $10 per acre crop insurance premium reduction for every acre of perennial grass established; and an optional $15 per acre public access agreement through the Game and Fish Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program.

Kevin Kading, Department private land section leader, said that while the program will provide soil health and water retention benefits, there will also be pluses on the wildlife habitat side of things.

“The program will provide valuable nesting cover at times of the year that are very important for pheasants, ducks and other grassland nesting birds. Another important aspect is the fawning cover it will provide for deer,” Kading said. “Hopefully, some of these acres can be enrolled in the PLOTS program, and hunters can access them that way. Even if they’re not enrolled in PLOTS, we’re hoping that some landowners will be willing to grant permission when asked. So, there will be benefits to the hunting public.”

Even though the Legacy program is in its infancy, and some acres will be planted with perennial grasses come spring in some areas, Kading said the expectation is to have the effort take root statewide and be available to producers anywhere and everywhere.

“We’re really hoping that we get a good cross-section of the state, good interest from producers and good representation of what the program is really trying to look at, which are those marginal acres, odd areas, places that are maybe just a little unproductive or out of the way that just make it easier for the producer to farm. And we’ll also get a little wildlife habitat out of it at the same time,” he said.

Kading said the program is getting some traction and is already being well received by producers, commodity and ag groups.

“I’m expecting there will be good interest in it because of the nature of it, because of that shorter term agreement, that quicker flexible process that’s involved,” he said. “It’s a program that’s going to help producers overall on their operation while still keeping those working lands active. It’s a good fit for all those features.”

Kelsch and Kading said the “we” in the establishment of the program wasn’t simply the Game and Fish Department and the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts.

“There are several other partners that spent a lot of their time with us over the last year, sitting at the table having discussions and they all had a hand in helping shape this and forming what the program will look like,” Kading said. “Their feedback and input was very valuable. And so, we want to make sure that we give credit to those organizations, groups and people who had that seat at the table with us. This program wouldn’t be possible without that collaborative effort.”

For landowners interested in the effort to improve soil health and wildlife habitat, contact the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts at ndascd.com or their local soil conservation district.

“With this program, it’s our chance as a state and as ag, conservation and energy partners to leave a legacy and try to continue the heritage we have in our state for hunting and agriculture,” Kading said. “It’s a good time right now to have these discussions and for this program. We’re very hopeful that it continues on past the Outdoor Heritage Fund grant and that it becomes something that’s a statewide, dedicated source of funding that continues into the future.”

Return to North Dakota Outdoors Febuary 2026 Edition