Plowing up a tract of native prairie only takes a few hours, a large tractor and plow, and a tank full of diesel fuel. Restoring that same prairie grass is an entirely different thing. It takes native grass seed, specialized seeding equipment, and diligent management particularly during the first ten years of establishment.

Fences must be built and maintained, property taxes paid, and interest/principal payments need to be satisfied with the creditor, be those either the local bank or the USDA Farm Ownership program. Growing soybeans, corn, wheat or grain sorghum will produce enough income, in a good growing year, to pay the typical mortgage debt load.  The rent from grazing on a native grass tract will cover only one-third of that mortgage payment.

For the last decade, financial and technical assistance on prairie reseeding efforts were routinely provided by the Natural Resource Conservation ServiceNRCS, an arm of the USDA dedicated to environmental stewardship. In February and March of 2025, funding cuts all but eliminated these programs and local county staff were fired.  

In short, we are now on our own. Your help is requested.  

For further details or discussion, please contact Jim Cossaart.