The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Lostwood Wetland Management District (WMD) is seeking applications from qualified individuals to conduct prescribed grazing activities under our Cooperative Agriculture Program. The purpose of the grazing program is to manage upland habitat to promote and enhance native grass and forb diversity in the prairies, enhance nesting cover for migratory birds and waterfowl, and reduce invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species .
The selected applicant will operate under a Cooperative Agriculture Agreement (CAA) as a “cooperator” with the Service. Under this Agreement, the cooperator will be responsible for providing the requested number of cattle and the necessary labor and materials to adequately meet management objectives on the grazing unit. The cooperator will have operational flexibility to incorporate Service lands, which may be managed by a variety of techniques (e.g. prescribed fire), into a grazing rotation to enhance grasslands specifically for wildlife conservation.
Agreements may extend from one to five years, depending on management needs. Once selected, an applicant’s refusal to accept a unit or inability to meet obligations of the agreement may result in immediate termination of the agreement and the applicant’s disqualification from applying for future opportunities. Past performance will also be considered for applicants who have previously held permits with the Service for cooperative agriculture.
How to Apply
To apply, applicants must complete the following:
- Page 1 of the Form 3-1383-C Commercial Activities Special Use Permit Application. You only need to complete one copy, even if applying for multiple grazing units.
- Cooperative Grazing Application for each unit you wish to be considered for.
Application materials may be obtained by the following methods:
- Under the "Get Started" section below
- In person at the Des Lacs NWR Office (address below)
- By calling the Des Lacs NWR Office at (701) 385-4046
Completed applications should be sent to:
Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge
Lostwood WMD - Grazing Applications
42000 520th ST NW
Kenmare, ND 58746
The deadline for submitting applications is COB March 15th, 2024.
How Cooperators Will Be Selected
Applications will be evaluated and scored based on answers to the Questionnaire part of the Cooperative Grazing Application. Applicants may be required to supply additional information based on their answers. The applicant with the highest score will be selected for each unit. Ties will be broken by random drawing among tied applicants. Application materials will be posted on the Lostwood WMD website ( https://www.fws.gov/refuge/lostwood_wmd/) or at the Des Lacs NWR Office.
For additional information and/or questions regarding these opportunities, please contact Refuge Manager Chad Zorn at 701-385-4046 x225 or chad_zorn@fws.gov.