Ecological Insights

Programs: A primary service is to provide environmental options for sustainable farming through advancement of science needed for carbon offset credits. This was performed through statewide sampling and scientific assessment of agricultural landscapes and landowner surveys. Performing this work required extension travel to sample soils and meet with landowners across rural north and south dakota. Funds were needed to support science and travel to field sites and conferences. Expenses included field equipment, contractor fees for soil processing, laboratory fees and supplies, data analysis software, and formal reporting of results. Project results are currently under scientific peer review but indicate that conservation practices enhance the carbon sink in these ecosystems. These benefit farmers interested in the value of the land-carbon, and carbon conservation organizations, such as the nd resources trust, the climate trust, ducks unlimited, and the plains and prairie potholes landscape conservation cooperative.

provide information needed to sustainably adapt to climate change for extensive grassland landscapes. This was performed in south dakota grasslands by collecting and modelling field and remote sensing-based data. Funds were needed to support science and travel to field sites. Expenses included laboratory equipment, computing equipment, and travel expenses while at remote locations, contractor fees for satellite data mapping, and outreach meetings. Results provide maps linking grassland management and climate, which benefit ranchers and agencies managing extensive landscapes, such as the us forest service, and the global climate change research community.

assess transport and fate of chemicals in the environment with experiments and watershed modeling to inform and improve mitigation designs. Funds were needed to support travel to field sites for soil sampling, supplies for soil chemistry, and data analysis. This project enhances mitigation strategies by mapping pathways salient to air and water quality. Benefactors are the general public, farmers, and state/federal environmental quality agencies, such as the environmental protection agency.