The overarching goal of this initiative is to provide comprehensive support to ameliorate obstacles bison producers in the great plains encounter

This $1,997,154 federal Project Grant award, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (CFDA 10.912), aims to support bison producers in the Great Plains region by utilizing bison as a sustainable grazer and implementing winter bale grazing techniques. The award, with a performance period from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027, will be administered by South Dakota State University (SDSU), a public land-grant research university. SDSU will leverage its expertise in areas such as animal disease research, soil moisture monitoring, and climate-conscious agricultural technologies to deliver comprehensive support and address obstacles encountered by bison producers in the region.

Central to this approach is the utilization of bison as a novel and sustainable grazer, complemented by the introduction of winter bale grazing, a distinctive methodology.