Restoring Grasslands, Strengthening Ranching: Why the RANCH Act Matters for the Great Plains

Across the Great Plains, grasslands are the foundation of thriving ranching operations, healthy wildlife populations, and resilient rural communities. Yet these critical landscapes continue to face mounting pressures. As native prairie has been converted to cropland over recent decades, coupled with an invasion of eastern red cedar choking out grasslands, grassland birds have experienced some of the steepest population declines of any bird group, with populations falling by 43 percent over the past 50 years. At the same time, many producers are farming increasingly marginal acres that are often less productive and more vulnerable to erosion, drought, and nutrient loss.

The bipartisan RANCH Act (S.5277) offers a promising solution. Introduced by Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the legislation would provide voluntary financial and technical assistance to help farmers and ranchers convert marginal cropland into long-term native grasses and forbs. The bill is designed to restore native grasslands, expand grazing opportunities, improve soil and water resources, and create habitat for grassland birds and other wildlife.

For Audubon Great Plains, this legislation builds on a model we know works. The RANCH Act draws directly from Audubon’s successful Conservation Forage Program in North Dakota and our partnership with Ducks Unlimited and the Working Grasslands Partnership in South Dakota, both of which have helped producers return marginal cropland to productive native grasslands that support both livestock production and wildlife habitat.

By establishing diverse native grasslands, producers gain valuable forage resources while reducing risks associated with farming less productive acres. Birds, pollinators, and other wildlife benefit from the restored habitat, creating conservation gains alongside economic returns.

The need for this approach is particularly urgent in the Great Plains, where ranching and healthy grasslands are deeply interconnected. Grasslands provide the foundation for productive grazing systems, helping producers build resilience while maintaining working lands for future generations. These same landscapes support bird species that depend on large expanses of grassland habitat, making ranchers important partners in grassland conservation. The RANCH Act recognizes that conservation and agricultural success go hand in hand. By investing in voluntary, incentive-based solutions, Congress can help keep working lands working while supporting the communities, wildlife, and industries that depend on them.

By helping producers establish long-term native cover, the RANCH Act would strengthen ranching operations, improve soil and water quality, and restore habitat for declining grassland birds. Building on the proven success of the Conservation Forage Program, this legislation offers a pathway to healthier grasslands, stronger ranching economies, and more resilient Great Plains landscapes for generations to come.