The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing up to $2.8 billion in selected projects under the first Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding pool. 14 projects were selected with approximate funding ceilings from $70 million to $95 million.

A proposal was created through South Dakota State University and partners, including the National Bison Association and Tanka Fund. The project is entitled “The Grass is Greener on the Other Side: Developing Climate-Smart Beef and Bison Commodities.” The approximate funding ceiling is an extraordinary $80,000,000. Tanka Fund will be part of a subcontract of approximately $1 million per year for five years.

This funding will help build on more technical assistance and incentives to continue and plan grazing management systems and other systems that are in line with climate-smart practices. Tanka Fund will be working with Native producers/caregivers and other minority cattle and buffalo producers to implement practices.

This project will create market opportunities for bison and beef producers who utilize climate-smart agriculture razing and land management practices. The project will guide and educate producers on climate-smart practices most suited for their operations, manage large scale climate smart data that will be used by producers to improve decision making, and directly impact market demand for climate-smart beef/bison commodity markets.

Learn more here about the awarded projects.