South Dakota Second Century Working Lands Habitat Program

This program pays South Dakota landowners a one-time per-acre payment (up to $450/acre West River, $750/acre East River for 10 years) to put marginal cropland such as saline or wet soils and field edges into grassland habitat, with free seed. Haying and grazing are allowed from August 1 to March 1 starting the second growing season, with limits. Public hunting is optional; enrolling in GFP's Walk-In Area program adds a $10/acre/year signing bonus plus WIA payments.

• SCHF flyer: 'Open to all cropland statewide'; 'No minimum or maximum acreage requirements'.

• 'Lands enrolled in the program are not required to be open to unlimited public hunting' (GFP web); 'No paid or commercial hunting on enrolled acres' (SCHF flyer).

10-year agreement per SCHF flyer ('Not renewable upon contract completion'); GFP page also lists 5-year rates. Haying limited to half the acres annually or all acres every other year; maintain 8-inch stubble height.

Published amounts: GFP web: 'One-time payments are provided to the cooperator in the amounts of $150 (5 yr) or $450/acre(10 yr) for west river counties and $250 (5 yr) or $750/acre (10 yr) for east river counties plus Tripp, Lyman and Gregory counties.' SCHF 2026 flyer: 'Payment rates are up to $450 per acre in West River and up to $750 per acre in East River.' WIA add-on: 'a one-time, up-front signing bonus of $10 per acre, per year to provide free public hunting access.'

SCHF: 'Enroll Land' via https://www.sdhabitatfund.com/; contact director@sdhabitatfund.com or a local Habitat Advisor (https://habitat.sd.gov/advisors/).

Deadline text on the page: No deadline; SCHF flyer: 'Future enrollment depends on available funding' and payments 'are subject to available funding.'