NRCS Archives - South Dakota Local Foods

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Supporting America’s Working Lands

“As the USDA’s primary private lands conservation agency, we generate, manage, and share the data, technology, and standards that enable partners and policymakers to make decisions informed by objective, reliable science.

And through one-on-one, personalized advice, we work voluntarily with producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their unique conservation and business goals. By doing so, we help address climate change and ensure the long-term sustainability of American agriculture. We’re also focused on the American farmer, especially those underserved by our programs as well as those trying to break into new markets, like organics.”

We are incredibly thankful to have USDA NRCS as a sponsor for the 2024 South Dakota Local Foods Conference!

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South Dakota Grasslands – More Than Just Grass with Laura Kahler, South Dakota Grasslands Initiative & Tanse Herrmann, NRCS

Environmental Members of our Community

Friday, November 8th, 2024 – 1:00pm MT in the Stanford Adelstein Gallery

An introduction to the substantial loss of grasslands in South Dakota, the importance of our grasslands to the state’s economy, ecology, and human communities, and how the South Dakota Grasslands Initiative invites you to play a role in supporting the grasslands, as an urban or rural resident.

The proof that managing for soil health across the landscape really works lies in the fact that these operators continue to advance their skillsets and grow their operations where the five soil health principles are being intentionally implemented. These same operations are managing resource concerns by treating the source of their problems rather than seeking band-aid type fixes that only temporarily relieve issues.

Laura Kahler is the director of the South Dakota Grasslands Initiative, a collaborative network for diverse organizations, agencies & individuals to join together in support of the grasslands.

Laura’s background is in Agriculture Education, and she ranches with her husband in Tripp County, raising commercial cattle, Targhee sheep and Red Wattle pigs. Her favorite ways to enjoy the grasslands are through hunting with her labrador, riding horse in the pastures, and taking her three young children outside to learn the names of the various plants.

Tanse Herrmann SD NRCS State Grazinglands Soil Health Specialist has developed a passion for soil health through relationships with producers who have implemented soil health management decision-making systems on their diversified crop and livestock grazing operations and seeing the positive impacts soil health has on yields, animal performance, financial well-being, and overall quality of life.

Tanse is a former SD State FFA officer, South Dakota Agricultural & Rural Leadership alum, and enjoys team roping as well as outdoor recreation with his wife and two children from their small ranch operation near Sturgis.

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