Ducks Unlimited (DU) is proud to announce a grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (AMBFF) to dramatically grow DU’s Soil Health Program (SHP) in Montana. The $350,000 grant from AMBFF will support this critical initiative designed to address pressing conservation challenges, enhance soil health and promote sustainable land-use practices, ensuring the vitality of Montana’s ecosystems and agricultural landscapes well into the future.
“Healthy soils mean thriving ecosystems and communities,” said Chad Ledford, director of Development at Ducks Unlimited. “Through this unique partnership, Ducks Unlimited and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation are uniting to ensure that farmers and ranchers in Montana can prosper while protecting our natural resources.”
The SHP is built around DU’s belief that empowering producers is critical to wide-scale soil health adoption across agricultural communities. With the SHP, Ducks Unlimited is taking an innovative approach to helping producers ensure the sustainability and profitability of their operations in the face of climate change while delivering waterfowl habitat conservation. The program also provides societal benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing carbon sequestration and improving water retention.
Key activities in Montana will include recruiting and enrolling producers in the SHP, leading to implementing cover crops, rotational grazing, restoring perennial grasses or returning historic wetlands to the landscape. The Soil Health Program offers enrolled producers access to education, technical assistance, the support of DU’s conservation team for restoration design, and cost-share funding for supplies like fencing and seed.
“The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is proud to support Ducks Unlimited’s innovative Soil Health Program,” said Blair Beasley, managing director, Environment, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “Expanding this program to Montana represents a significant step towards promoting climate-smart agricultural practices that benefit both producers and the environment. By investing in soil health and sustainable land management, we’re safeguarding Montana’s rich natural resources and empowering local producers to adapt to changing climate conditions in a way that makes sense for their business.”
Additionally, support from AMBFF enables DU to work alongside the Northern Great Plains Joint Venture and other partners to assess steps the needed to combat Montana’s grassland loss and degradation. Montana’s native grasslands are essential for biodiversity, agriculture and the state’s overall environmental health. Since a significant portion of Montana’s land is under private ownership, DU and AMBFF are focused on advancing critical grassland conservation that will positively impact the landscape and the producers who steward it now and in the future.
Together, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and Ducks Unlimited support a more resilient and sustainable future in Montana. The Soil Health Program addresses conservation needs, equipping producers with the tools and knowledge they need for future generations.
