Meadowlark Initiative

There are a variety of practices available through the Meadowlark Initiative:

• Native and tame grass plantings
• Prescribed grazing
• Fencing
• Water development (including wells, pipelines and pumping plants)
• Prescribed burning
• Brush management (invasive shrub/tree removal in grasslands)
• Wetland restoration and enhancements
• Rental payments*

*Landowners may be eligible to receive a rental payment for the first three years when marginal cropland is planted to diverse native perennial grasses while the land is not generating income from farming or grazing. After the grass is established, the landowner will not receive rental payments, but the land may be used for grazing.

Many of these practices are available through the various conservation partners and USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

The Meadowlark Initiative is intended to provide landowners a one-stop-shop for programs and practices available through various private, state and federal conservation partners to help establish and manage diverse native perennial grasses, install grazing infrastructure and develop working grasslands for sustainable livestock grazing.

Landowner and Producer Programs include:

• Grazing System and Infrastructure
  • Grassland Management
  • Native Grassland Reconstruction
  • Wetland Enhancements and Restoration
  • Grazing Mentoring

Visit https://gf.nd.gov/meadowlark-initiative/programs for program details.