USDA to give South Dakota $83 million for grassland conservation

The United States Department of Agriculture has announced the state of South Dakota is set to receive $83 million in grants for grassland conservation and climate-smart agricultural practices. The money will go to six different projects across the state, the largest amount $24 million going to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to fight encroachment of eastern redcedar on grasslands. The area of focus includes lands along the Missouri, James and White River watersheds. Preserving grasslands is important to fighting climate change as grasslands pull heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it deep in their root systems.