Grassland and managed grazing policy review

Perennial grasslands, including prairie and pasture, have declined with tremendous environmental social costs. This decline reflects unequal policy support for grasslands managed grazing compared to row crops. To create a resource community partners decision-makers, we reviewed analyzed the tools implementation capacity that supports constrains in U.S. Upper Midwest. Risk reduction subsidies corn soybeans far outpace pasture. Some states lost their statewide specialist when federal Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative lapsed. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Service lands prescribed practices after 2005 but remained relatively steady 2010–2020. These results reveal disadvantage comparison crop agriculture milk meat production. Grassland policies an important nexus water quality, biodiversity, carbon outdoor recreation policy. Socially just transitions well-managed, grazed require equity-oriented interventions needs. We synthesized recommendations national state farmers other professionals assert would perennial grazing, changes insurance, conservation programs, supply chains, land access, fair labor. provide critical grass-based prairies hope will help build soil, retain nutrients, reduce flooding enhance biodiversity while providing healthy food, jobs, communities.