Cropland fragments grassland habitat and its presence on the landscape has negative consequences for populations of sensitive obligate species including sagegrouse songbirds and pronghorn jakes 2015

Negative impacts extend far beyond the actual tilled land and result in diminished habitat value of otherwise intact grassland landscapes. The conservation reserve program CRP is the largest private land conservation program in the U.S. Having established millions of acres of permanent cover on marginal cropland in the northern great plains. However budget reductions in recent memory have led to declines in enrollment in some areas. When CRP contracts expire landowners are often faced with a difficult decision. In most cases a revenue stream from the land is required immediately for ownership to be retained. Because CRP has a cropping history sowing a cash crop on the land is usually a straightforward and affordable option. However in some cases landowners are interested in integrating parcels into new or existing livestock operations. Our partnership will continue to grow the core by restoring perennial native cover on marginal cropland embedded within and around intact grasslands and transitioning these properties into functional grazing systems to support and expand the fabric of the grazing landscape. This project will work collaboratively with our local partnership and rancher network to retain approximately 14260 acres of highly vulnerable grassland in expiring conservation reserve program and associated lands as perennial grassland cover.