The Grass is Greener on the Other Side

Update (2026): Producer enrollment for this project is open. AgSpire runs producer enrollment and pays incentives and premiums on behalf of the project — see The Grass is Greener. South Dakota State University remains the project lead; contact Kristi Cammack for beef and bison enrollment details.

Developing Resilient Beef and Bison Commodities

Grazing beef cattle and bison are key to healthy grassland ecosystems and provide the most nutrient-dense source of protein available for human consumption. Grazing action promotes improved soil health and carbon storage.

This project seeks to 1) engage beef and bison producers in regenerative land management practices by providing incentives and customized technical assistance; 2) conduct research to generate the data needed by beef and bison producers to position themselves for future market opportunities; and 3) develop partnerships across the beef and bison industries to enable long-term market strategies. This project directly engages producers and compensates them for implementing practices proven to benefit agriculture. Our overall goal is to help ensure the resiliency of U.S. agriculture and its producers.

• Implement a cover crop, forage or range planting, and keep perennials in place for at least 5 years.

• Allow soil sampling (up to twice a year) and GPS mapping of the operation.

• Give AgSpire information about the operation and its fields.

• Sign a 1-year contract.

The Grass is Greener helps producers enhance forage production, plant cover crops, restore land to native pasture, and improve grazing practices, while strengthening operational efficiency and long-term resiliency.

• Technical Assistance: AgSpire's advisors provide one-on-one guidance on seed selection, planting recommendations and management practices.

• Incentive Payments: cost-share for cover crop establishment, forage plantings and range plantings.

• Per-Head Premiums: additional premiums for beef cattle sold into the market, paid on a per-pound basis.

Cost and payments

Signing up with AgSpire and enrolling in its programs is free for farmers and ranchers.

Once contract conditions are met and practices have been verified (usually through a verification visit, testing for outcomes, and/or physical verification such as receipts), AgSpire pays producers quarterly.

Producer enrollment runs through two routes:

• AgSpire: fill out the Producer Profile and an AgSpire advisor will contact you with next steps. AgSpire says enrollment is open year round. It is enrolling in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, and enrollment will open soon in Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

• South Dakota State University: contact Kristi Cammack for enrollment details for both beef and bison.