Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program

The Governor’s LEGACY Soil Health and Habitat Program is designed to help North Dakota farmers strengthen cropland productivity and resilience by establishing perennial grass cover on marginal or unproductive cropland. LEGACY is administered by North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts with local delivery through Soil Conservation Districts and partners. LEGACY offers a simple, short-term option for marginal or unproductive cropland; providing economic incentives with opportunities to enhance wildlife habitat and improve soil health. Additional options and economic incentives are available for public access. The North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department received an Outdoor Heritage Fund grant with support from various partners to support the LEGACY Program.

Applications will be accepted during the following batching periods:

• February 2–27

• March 2–27

For more information and to apply, contact your local Soil Conservation District: https://www.ndascd.com/district-offices

Program Goal:

The program aims to enroll up to 10,000 acres.

Eligible Land:

The program targets actively farmed cropland, with an emphasis on marginal or unproductive acres such as low-yielding fields, inefficient areas to farm, stream buffers, and wetland buffers. Land already established in grass (e.g., former CRP or hay land) is generally ineligible, and conversion of native grassland is not encouraged.

Agreement Length:

Participants enter into a five-year agreement.