“The ability to provide establishment payments is the critical element that really makes the Conservation Forage Program work for landowners who are interested in keeping their lands working to produce food, for the world and for wildlife,” Marshall Johnson, executive director of Audubon Dakota, said in a statement. “We know North Dakota landowners love their land, and so do birds. By acknowledging and investing in the financial commitment of converting marginal lands to grassland, this program can be a win-win for the agriculture and conservation communities. After years of collaborating and planning, we are thrilled to finally offer the Conservation Forage Program to producers.”