Ranchers and Partners for Fish and Wildlife team up
to save South Dakota grasslands.

To accelerate grassland conservation, the South Dakota Partners Program works with over 200 landowners a year, many of which are ranchers who wish to either maintain, enhance, or restore grasslands through managed grazing systems, grass seedings, or wetland development.

Terry Howard, a South Dakota rancher and Partners participant typifies the feelings of many. Howard notes that the Partners Program is "super to work with" and helped him restore 320 acres of grazing land that "should have never been farmed." Keith Krull, another South Dakota rancher and Partners participant notes the Partners Program was very accommodating and helped him "cut through the red tape" to meet the needs of his operation. Similar sentiments have been noted nationally. Myra Hyde, Director of Environmental Issues for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association concludes that ranchers who work with Partners report a "positive experience" largely because the program is "voluntary, flexible, and delivered one on one to address site specific needs."