WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 27, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced an investment of over $325 million across 42 projects to help boost farm operations and conserve natural resources, including two projects totaling nearly $15 million awarded to Ducks Unlimited (DU).
The grants are awarded under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which incentivizes a voluntary, partnership-driven approach to conservation on working agricultural lands. The DU-led projects to receive funding will be implemented across six states in the Great Plains.
“Strong conservation partnerships are essential to achieving lasting results on the landscape. The NRCS’s leadership and continued commitment to conservation are critical to making these partnerships successful and delivering meaningful benefits. The RCPP Program helps bring together the resources and expertise farmers and ranchers need to restore critical habitat and advance conservation at scale. DU appreciates the NRCS’s investment in collaborative and voluntary conservation efforts that benefit working lands, wetlands, and waterfowl.”
Adam Putnam, DU CEO
"NRCS’s investment reinforces the importance of working alongside agricultural producers to advance conservation solutions that benefit both people and the land. These projects will allow DU to expand our vital work across the Great Plains, restoring wetlands to support groundwater recharge and advancing soil health practices that strengthen agricultural resilience. By aligning agricultural productivity with conservation, we can sustain the water, soil, and other natural resources on which our communities depend.”
Dr. Karen Waldrop, DU COO
A brief summary of each DU-led project receiving funding is below. For a full list of projects to receive funding, visit the USDA’s website here.
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Ogallala Aquifer Recharge – $10,000,000
States: Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
DU and conservation partners will restore and protect playa wetlands across five states to improve groundwater recharge, water quality, wildlife habitat, and agricultural resilience throughout the Ogallala Aquifer region. Building on proven conservation efforts, the initiative will expand voluntary 10-15-year rental agreements that compensate producers for implementing practices such as sediment removal, hydrologic restoration, and native buffer establishment. By leveraging partner investments and addressing gaps in existing conservation programs, the project will strengthen drought resilience, support agricultural producers, and advance long-term water sustainability across the High Plains.
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Advancing Soil Health and Resilience Through Cover Crop Adoption and Grassland Restoration – $4,950,000
State: North Dakota
Ducks Unlimited will deliver large-scale conservation benefits across North Dakota by restoring grasslands, improving soil health, and increasing the resilience of working agricultural landscapes. The project will convert 2,500 acres of cropland to perennial cover, establish diverse cover crops on 10,000 acres, and promote prescribed grazing practices. These actions, supported by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service easements and DU’s private lands conservation expertise, will reduce erosion, improve water quality, strengthen wildlife habitat, and provide lasting benefits throughout the Prairie Pothole Region.
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Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 20 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
