By Doug Leier
On a beautiful morning at the Cass County Soil Conservation District Office south of Mapleton, I watched them all come together. Literally. Richard Fordyce, USDA under secretary, Sen. John Hoeven, Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Jeb Williams, Game and Fish director, and a few dozen others.
Some set out at 4 a.m. to travel hours down the road to be a part of the 9:30 a.m. gathering.
It struck a chord as farmers, ranchers, landowners and government officials from an array of representation listened to the success and suggestions for a generational program. As Gov Armstrong pointed out, “It’s a one page application”
How many other government programs can claim that?
The first enrollment cycle of the Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program shows there is strong interest from landowners.
Launched through a $6.5 million Outdoor Heritage Fund grant approved in late 2025, the program represents a new effort championed by Gov. Armstrong, an avid hunter and angler who understands the important connection between agriculture, habitat and outdoor recreation in North Dakota. The North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts administers the
program, with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department serving as a co-applicant and partner.
As with any new program, expectations should be realistic. No single initiative will solve every habitat or access challenge facing the state, particularly as federal conservation programs continue an uphill climb. Still, this is an encouraging step in the right direction and another tool available to producers who want to improve soil health, restore grasslands and create wildlife habitat on less productive acres. A key point is this program targets acres the farmer isn’t seeing the return on investment.
The program offers five-year agreements that include annual rental payments, cost-share assistance for establishing grass cover and an innovative crop insurance credit for acres converted from unproductive cropland to grassland habitat. Additional incentives are available for landowners who choose to enroll acres in the Game and Fish Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program, helping expand public hunting opportunities while respecting private property rights.
The response during the first signup period exceeded expectations. A total of 458 applications were submitted, representing nearly 20,000 acres and more than $10 million in funding requests. Interest in public access was also evident, with nearly 6,000 acres offered through PLOTS. Available funding allowed for the selection of the highest-ranked projects, resulting in more than 9,000 acres of habitat and access improvements moving forward in 2026.
Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway is the level of interest from producers themselves. North Dakota’s conservation success has always depended on willing landowners, farmers and ranchers who recognize the value of healthy soils, productive grasslands and abundant wildlife. The strong response suggests there is demand for practical, state-led programs that complement existing federal conservation efforts.
While it’s too early to declare the program a game changer, the first enrollment cycle demonstrates meaningful momentum and a willingness among producers to participate when opportunities make sense for their operations.
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