Provide expertise to enhance south dakota native pollinator habitat, build on existing partnerships to provide conservation technical & financial assistance working directly with producers

The National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded Pheasants Forever, Inc. a $379,997 Cooperative Agreement under the Conservation Reserve Program (CFDA 10.069) effective September 30, 2025, through September 29, 2030. Under this five-year award, Pheasants Forever will provide expertise and technical assistance to enhance native pollinator habitat in South Dakota while building on existing conservation partnerships. The organization will deliver conservation technical and financial assistance directly to agricultural producers, leveraging its established relationships with private landowners and state conservation entities to implement habitat restoration and conservation practices that support pollinator populations and ecosystem health.

This cooperative agreement represents the NRCS's investment in third-party conservation delivery infrastructure, complementing the Conservation Reserve Program's direct payments to landowners. Pheasants Forever's role focuses on capacity building and technical assistance that enhances voluntary conservation practice adoption on environmentally sensitive agricultural lands. The award aligns with the broader Conservation Reserve Program objective of protecting the nation's natural resources through cost-effective conservation implementation, with the organization serving as a critical implementation partner to expand program reach and effectiveness across South Dakota's agricultural landscape.