Improving South Dakota's grasslands

From the Pheasant Capital of the WorldYour partner in conservation
Formed in 2018 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Second Century Habitat Fund partners with producers and landowners to conserve and expand healthy habitat for pheasants and other wildlife habitat, expand public hunting opportunities, and transform non-producing and low-yield lands in ways that provide a long-term environmental benefit.
Hear from acurrent landowner
Karen's great grandpa homesteaded a half mile west of here in 1880. We moved here from Bennett County in 1991 and bought the neighboring farm. We then rented five quarters family land and five more quarters to create Kopriva Angus.
Much of the pastureland has been aerial sprayed with 2-4d or Dycamba every ten years or so, which did control weeds, but it also eliminated the desirable native forbs, so that segment of the prairie population is missing. This Second Century seeding program will re-establish native and other non-bloating legumes back into the population. This will improve habitat for wildlife and increase carrying capacity.
Jim Kopriva • Landowner
Protecting Habitats, Preserving WildlifeOur Programs
In partnership with South Dakota Game & Fish and other conservation partners, we have identified two primary target programs to enhance South Dakota’s habitat, and clean water.

Working Lands Habitat Program
The focus of this program is to enroll marginal cropland such as saline and moist soils, field edges, other less productive soil types or areas producers want to manage as wildlife habitat for 5 years.

Big Sioux River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
A program to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, enhance wildlife habitat, and create public hunting and fishing access.