The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on August 8 that it was investing $12 million to expand technical assistance to livestock producers to increase conservation practices on grazing lands through the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). Common conservation practices that improve grazing lands include prescribed grazing, fencing, pasture and hay management, prescribed burning, and brush management, among others. Through GLCI the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will leverage partnerships with nonprofit organizations, state and local agencies, farming/ranching organizations, tribal governments or organizations, and land grant universities to expand the availability of technical assistance and implementation of grazing conservation practices.

“Privately owned grazing lands cover nearly 30% of the national landscape, which means we have a tremendous opportunity to address climate change and conserve natural resources through voluntary, private lands conservation,” said NRCS Chief Terry Cosby. “NRCS enlists a wide variety of conservation practices to help livestock producers. These partnerships will also help us expand the footprint of conservation on grazing lands and could help better reach historically underserved producers.”

NRCS will be accepting proposals for GLCI Cooperative Agreements until September 22. Proposals should address barriers livestock producers face in accessing grazing assistance and should meet at least one of the following priorities:

• Address local natural resource concerns.
• Use climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices and principles.
• Encourage existing and new partnerships through emphasizing equity in advancing the resource needs of underserved communities.
• Identify and implement strategies to quantify, monitor, report on and verify conservation benefits associated with grazing management systems.

For more information and to apply, visit the funding opportunity on grants.gov.