Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) Funding is an invaluable resource for our coalitions to fund technical assistance on the ground. The Senate Agriculture Appropriations SubCommittee is currently taking comments from constituents. Whether your senator sits on the committee or not, we ask that you reach out with the following message:
Dear Senator,
Please consider adding the following funding request into the Agriculture Appropriations SubCommittee:
“The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative is an extremely important program that protects and enhances ecosystems services across our native prairies, forests, and millions of acres of range and pasturelands across the country. While historically it has been funded at low levels, the impacts it has had on both our environment and producer livelihoods cannot be understated. It builds conservation coalitions in states led by grazing producers to ensure the funding is used in the most impactful way to protect the taxpayer. It funds enhanced practices like restoration of native grasslands, water infrastructure, improved grazing rotations, and many other practices plus the technical assistance needed to implement successful practices. It enhances wildlife habitat, improves water quality and water retention, improves drought resiliency, increases soil organic matter and soil carbon, all while also improving the operation for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. As a producer myself, I appreciate the ROI technical assistance and practice implementation dollars has had on my operation and hope the same for our next generation. Please consider funding this program in FY27 appropriations to continue these efforts on the ground across our nation’s grazing lands. In years past, the funds have been extremely impactful, but highly competitive. We urge you to consider funding GLCI at $30 million in order to ensure that grassroots organizations in every state are afforded the opportunity to provide meaningful resources to their local audiences."
