$6.5 Million Commitment Strengthens Grassland Conservation Through Rancher-Focused Programs

$6.5 Million Commitment Strengthens Grassland Conservation Through Rancher-Focused Programs

A strong future for Saskatchewan’s native grasslands starts with supporting the ranchers who manage them. The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) is excited to continue its work with the province’s producers through an extended partnership with the Weston Family Foundation and their $6.5 million commitment to SSGF programming over the next five years.

The funding through the Weston Family Foundation’s Prairie Grasslands Initiative supports diverse approaches to stewardship, economic viability, and training—recognizing that different strategies contribute to long-term biodiversity outcomes and, together, sustain landscape health over time. The SSGF is proud of our producer-focused programs that are part of this initiative that not only work for working ranches but support ranching viability with the goal of native grassland conservation and furthermore, increasing retention of young ranchers in the livestock industry.

The partnership will continue to drive multiple SSGF programs including the highly sought-after Term Conservation Easement program. Term Conservation Easements give producers the opportunity to conserve their native grasslands for a defined period of time while continuing to ranch and make the day-to-day management decisions on their land. Unlike permanent conservation options, a Term Conservation Easement is only registered to the land title for a set term length. The flexibility of this program creates an opportunity to work with multiple generations of landowners and demonstrate the value of conservation approaches that respect the long-term needs of working ranches. With only 3 restrictions of no break, no drain and no development, they still allow the landowner to graze, hay and ultimately manage their land while receiving a financial incentive for their voluntary conservation efforts.

Another program supported through this funding is SSGF’s Habitat Management Agreements. These agreements provide technical guidance and infrastructure funding for practical, on-the-ground projects that work to improve grassland health and habitat while still supporting the day-to-day needs of ranches. Through these agreements, producers can identify management priorities on their land, such as invasive species control, wildlife friendly fencing, water development, grazing management plans, or other improvements. SSGF then works alongside landowners to identify solutions and develop a plan tailored to their operation, including determining the most effective way to support the project through available funding. By investing in targeted improvements, Habitat Management Agreements help producers address challenges on the landscape while maintaining productive grazing operations and strengthening the long-term health of Saskatchewan’s native grasslands.

Good grazing management doesn’t just support livestock though, it also creates valuable habitat for grassland birds and other wildlife. Through the Weston Family Foundations’ Prairie Grasslands Initiative, SSGF will implement the Bird Friendliness Index (BFI) Incentive Program in partnership with Birds Canada. The program recognizes producers for the role their management practices play in supporting grassland bird populations, with participating ranchers eligible to receive annual per-acre payments based on positive conservation outcomes. Birds Canada conducts bird surveys on participating ranches, and the results are compared to expected bird populations within the surrounding landscape. When bird numbers exceed regional expectations, producers can earn a payment based on their BFI score. The program provides another opportunity for ranchers to demonstrate the conservation value of their working lands while receiving financial recognition for the habitat they are providing.

For ranchers, conservation programming can seem daunting but the reality is that it doesn’t mean taking land out of production. Healthy native grasslands are already a valuable part of a working ranch, providing forage for livestock, supporting healthy soils and water systems, and providing habitat for wildlife. SSGF recognizes the important role producers play in maintaining these landscapes and provides compensation for voluntarily protecting the grasslands they are already stewarding.

Thanks to the continued support of the Weston Family Foundation, SSGF can advance its work to conserve Saskatchewan’s native grasslands by supporting sustainable ranching practices, empowering local communities, and expanding producer-led conservation programming across the province. This investment will help SSGF continue delivering practical programs that work within the realities of Saskatchewan’s working ranches. Together, these programs demonstrate that conservation and ranching can go hand in hand.