National Grazing Lands Coalition

The National Grazing Lands Coalition (NGLC), doing business as Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, is a non-profit organization specializing in conservation technical assistance, education, and training related to sustainable grazing practices and climate-smart agriculture. Registered with the federal government since May 2012, NGLC has established itself as a key partner in advancing climate resiliency and soil health on rangeland and pastureland across diverse climates, soils, and production systems. The organization works closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deliver on-the-ground support to ranchers, landowners, and USDA staff, promoting sustainable grazing practices that build climate resilience on agricultural lands. NGLC's expertise spans a range of services, including providing specialized training, implementing climate-smart practices, and expanding markets for climate-smart commodities.

NGLC has secured federal contracts to provide specialized training services to government agencies. In August 2022, the organization received a $128,120 Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order contract from the USDA's National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Central Region to deliver two "Working Effectively with Livestock Producers" training courses. This contract demonstrates NGLC's expertise in providing training to federal agency staff on topics related to livestock production and grazing management. The contract was awarded without any set-aside designation, indicating that NGLC competed in an open market to secure this opportunity. Additionally, NGLC has been contracted to deliver six Working Effectively with Livestock Producers training courses to NRCS employees in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi, totaling approximately $622,800. These contracts highlight NGLC's role in enhancing the capabilities of USDA staff to work effectively with livestock producers and implement sustainable grazing practices.

NGLC has been awarded numerous federal grants to support its conservation and climate-smart agriculture initiatives. The organization has secured multiple Project Grants under the USDA's Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, totaling nearly $15 million, to expand markets for climate-smart beef cattle and livestock in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and tribal areas. These grants support rancher implementation and monitoring of climate-smart practices over a five-year period. NGLC has also received Cooperative Agreements from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service under the Soil and Water Conservation program. These agreements, ranging from $300,000 to $2.625 million, fund initiatives such as demonstrating climate-smart methods of delivering conservation technical assistance, advancing educational opportunities for NRCS employees, and promoting climate resiliency and soil health on grazing lands. As a sub-grantee, NGLC assists with recruiting small, disadvantaged, and veteran grasslands producers to enroll in climate-smart practices and contributes to outreach activities through digital media and educational events. These grant awards underscore NGLC's significant role in advancing sustainable grazing practices and climate-smart agriculture across the United States.