Our Partners

The South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts (SDACD) is the statewide organization that supports South Dakota’s 68 conservation districts. We help districts work effectively, connect with partners, and deliver conservation programs and education at the local level.

Programs: EQIP, RCPP, CSP, etc.
About: NRCS offers financial and technical assistance through conservation practices, activities and enhancements to help agricultural producers make and maintain improvements on their land.

Our mission at Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is the conservation of birds and their habitats through an integrated approach of science, education and land stewardship. We envision a future where birds are forever abundant, contributing to healthy landscapes and inspiring human curiosity and love of nature. Our work radiates from the Rockies to the Great Plains, Mexico and beyond. Our efforts are advanced by sound science, achieved through empowering people, realized through stewardship and sustained through partnerships. Together, we are improving native bird populations, the land and the lives of people.

Private landowners and agricultural producers (i.e., farmers and ranchers) play a critical role in providing habitat for birds and other wildlife, as well as food and fiber for people. At Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, we believe healthy wildlife habitat and healthy human communities can more than just co-exist – they can thrive with proper management and stewardship. Our biologists and rangeland ecologists work alongside private landowners, land managers and resource professionals in local communities to build trust and foster proactive, voluntary conservation efforts. It’s a win-win for birds and people. A diversity of wildlife habitats are improved to contribute to populations of songbirds, grouse, waterbirds and other wildlife, while farms and ranches remain working lands that support families, communities and a rural way of life.

Goals
Bird Conservancy’s Strategic Plan outlines five major goals to help accomplish our mission:

Leverage biological and social information
Engage diverse communities
Build connected and resilient landscapes
Catalyze and engage in collaborative initiatives
Create a resilient organization

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) works with farmers, ranchers, and landowners to provide access to disaster relief, commodity support, conservation programs, and farm loans.

SDALT is a nonprofit 501(c)3 conservation organization with a mission to conserve South Dakota’s agricultural heritage and working landscapes for the benefit of future generations.

The South Dakota Grassland Coalition is a producer-driven organization focused on the stewardship and management of private grasslands. Led by a board of ranchers and landowners, the coalition works with partners across the state to provide science-based education and practical grazing management resources that support profitable ranching, healthy grasslands, clean water, and abundant wildlife.

The Northern Great Plains Joint Venture is a public-private partnership working to facilitate conservation actions that result in healthy ecosystems and bird populations and also benefit the people living and working in the Northern Great Plains. We employ a holistic approach to conservation that considers the ecological, social, and cultural implications of actions. We work to build relevant science and incorporate western science, Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and local knowledge to balance conservation actions, communications, and policy. We support voluntary, incentive-based working lands solutions that work for people and for birds. Our collaborative approach helps sustain local producers and the economic vitality of rural and Indigenous communities

The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF) is managed by AgOutcomes, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Iowa Soybean Association. SWOF is committed to bringing the best opportunities to farmers who are looking to add or scale conservation practices on their fields. We specifically work in scope three insetting, where we support farmers by partnering with organizations to help lower the greenhouse gas footprint of their supply chain.

About:
USDA Rural Development is committed to improving the economy and quality of life in rural America. We understand a strong community is rooted in its people. The commitment and resources we bring to rural communities helps drive economic security and prosperity by offering the following services:

• Loans, grants, and loan guarantees to communities and essential service providers for health care, first responder services and equipment, and education; to local businesses and organizations to help create jobs and support economic development; and for infrastructure projects consisting of water, electrical, high-speed internet, and communications.

• Technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started, expand markets, and improve the effectiveness of their operations; and to help communities undertake community empowerment programs.

• Help rural residents buy or rent safe, affordable housing and make health and safety repairs to their homes.

Contact Information:

Lorraine Polak, Rural Development State Director for South Dakota
Lorraine.Polak@usda.gov
(605) 352-1100

Michael Frye, Public Information Officer
Michael.Frye@usda.gov
(605) 799-5591

200 4th St SW
Rural Development Room 210
Huron, South Dakota 57350

South Central Resource Conservation and Development (South Central RC&D) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that is a governed by a board of 12 members, representing Jones, Mellette, Todd and Tripp Counties in central South Dakota. The Mission of South Central RC&D is to provide technical assistance in the areas of Community Developoment, Land Management, Land Conservation and Water Management.

Jewell Bork, Program Manager
southcentralrcd@goldenwest.net
605-669-2222

Program: USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife

About: Technical and financial assistance with certain grazing management, grassland restoration, and wetland restoration projects with wildlife conservation benefits. 

The South Dakota Grassland Initiative is a collaborative network of diverse organizations, agencies, and individuals who support grasslands as a means of retaining prairie ecosystems, both native and restored, while sustaining rural economies and healthy communities.

South Dakota Grassland Initiative welcomes partners from all facets of South Dakota, including those with a focus on our agricultural, environmental, economic, and social components.

Through coordinated efforts focused on our grasslands, we are able to amplify our impact to support both the ecological communities and rural communities that depend on an ecosystem that once made up 95% of our state.

Kateri provides custom regenerative ranching programs and services intended to help unlock the land’s potential and generate shared revenue streams for producers from the sale of carbon & other natural capital.

About: A NOLO is someone who owns land but doesn’t farm it themselves. This website was created to provide sound information and advice on soil health and conservation programs and practices for NOLOs.

Ducks Unlimited is a non-profit wetlands conservation organization that conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. The Prairie Pothole Region (including eastern South Dakota) is our highest priority area due to intact grasslands and wetlands and importance to continental waterfowl populations.

About: The South Dakota State University Extension (SDSU) provides farmers, ranchers, agri-business people, communities, families, and youth with the research-based information they need to succeed. They prioritize these efforts in the following program areas: competitive crop systems, competitive livestock systems, 4-H youth development, food and families, and community vitality. 

Audubon Great Plains is the regional office of the National Audubon Society for Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Using science, habitat restoration, outreach, and education, we holistically address the core threats facing birds in our region. We are a nonpartisan bird conservation organization that collaborates with diverse stakeholders to find solutions to improve and restore bird habitats while engaging our communities.

Programs: Conservation Commission Grant, Coordinated Natural Resources Conservation Program

About: The Conservation Commission Grant offers a program that provides cost-share assistance to private landowners (through the local conservation districts) to improve the natural resources within the state of South Dakota. The Coordinated Natural Resources Conservation Program provides assistance to the conservation districts to help producers implement practices to address local resource concerns.

The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) was formed in 1982 to support the widespread use of economically and environmentally beneficial agricultural systems.

Members of CTIC, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, include farmers, policy makers, regulators, academic researchers, agribusiness leaders, conservation group personnel, farm media, and others. The organization is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other public entities.

It is our mission to champion, promote and provide information on climate smart technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.

Founded in 2011, Wetland Specialists, Inc. is a team of professionals with unique experience in wetlands resource strategies. Our staff specializes in wetlands delineation, assessment, mitigation, and jurisdictional determination. We provide comprehensive knowledge and experience along with compliance management, expertise in field procedures, and state-of-the art technological value.

Our wetlands experts stand ready to collaborate with both public and private clients to provide tailored services to meet the needs of our customers. We work cooperatively with a variety of organizations and private land owners. Our methods are consistent with federal wetlands criteria and guidelines; our projects provide practical solutions. Our team focuses on turning liabilities into assets.

Programs: Habitat Pays

About: Habitat Pays is designed to provide more information and education to assist landowners in designing, developing, and funding habitat on their land. Working directly with habitat advisors who possess the knowledge of federal, state, and local programs, landowners can find the right programs to meet their personal habitat and land use goals.

Formed in 2024, SEDPBA members are private landowners committed to improving native grasslands and rotational grazing pastures through the safe use of prescribed burning. Our target area of Yankton, Bon Homme, Clay, and the southern portions of Hutchinson and Turner Counties are being progressively invaded by Eastern Red Cedar (ERC) and other species of woody encroachment. We formed this 501 (c) (3) non-profit to assist other landowners and producers in accomplishing well-planned, safe, and effective prescribed burns.

We specialize in advanced soil mapping technology to measure soil chemistry, compaction, bulk density, and biology, including both beneficial microbes and pathogens. We support croplands and grasslands, working with soil carbon project developers like GrassRoots Carbon, Kateri, Native, Indigo, and others to baseline fields and ranches for carbon initiatives. We also collaborate with NRCS, Fish and Game, Ducks Unlimited, and others to support sustainability projects with partner farmers and ranchers.

About: The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition is a producer-led, non-profit, membership organization created to promote soil health through education and research. 

The Second Century Habitat Fund is a nonprofit 501 c3 corporation that works to educate landowners on the importance of grassland to improve pheasant habitat in South Dakota. The Fund is governed by a Board of Directors representing landowners, business owners, pheasant preserve operators and community leaders across South Dakota.

MISSION
To be advocates of habitat stewardship, collaborate with community partners, and be conservation leaders to benefit all of South Dakota.

VISION
To restore and retain pheasant habitat development while providing awareness to the importance of sustaining South Dakota’s strong outdoor heritage of pheasant hunting for future generations.

AgSpire delivers free incentive programs for farmers and ranchers, tailored to the needs of each operation. With flexible practice options, hands-on technical assistance, and financial support, our programs help strengthen herds, improve land, and boost operational longevity.

The Mule Deer Foundation is dedicated to restoring, improving, and protecting mule deer and their habitat, with a focus on science and program efficiency. Our conservation programs combined with our grassroots support are the foundation of who we are as an organization. We are committed to sustaining our western deer populations by ensuring quality habitat in the areas deer need on a daily, seasonal, and yearly basis. Our conservation efforts are delivered through efforts by MDF staff and in partnership with state and federal agencies as well as other non-profit organizations.

The National Center for Appropriate Technology or NCAT has been helping people build resilient communities through local and sustainable solutions that reduce poverty, strengthen self-reliance, and protect natural resources since 1976. NCAT is a trusted, practical connector for individuals and businesses who are working to leave our world better than we found it.

We do this work through a trusted knowledgebase, providing individualized technical assistance, facilitating practical solutions, and connecting people with each other to support sustainable agriculture and clean energy systems.

NCAT is headquartered in Butte, Montana.

Lealand is driven by his desire for ranchers to gain more wealth from the land. Retired with over thirty years of career experience of the USDA NRCS, he owns and operates Fourever Grazingland LLC as grassland management coach. Also has a Range Science degree from NDSU and Farm/Ranch Mngt credits from Dickinson State University. His NRCS career has taken him from North Dakota, to the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming and finally South Dakota. He has earned the Certified Range Mngt Consultant with the Society for Rangeland Management. With his wife and 4 children, he manages grassland with sheep & cattle.