Conservation accomplishments are made possible through partnerships with outside agencies that include: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Hamlin County Farm Service Agency, SD Department of Ag Resource Conservation Forestry Division, SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, SD Conservation Commission, East Dakota Water Development District, James River Water Development District, Ducks Unlimited, SD Game Fish and Parks, and Pheasants Forever. These organizations work with the conservation districts to allow cost share availability for dams, dugout, riparian projects, tree planting, grassed waterways, animal waste management systems, cover crops, and cross fencing.
The Hamlin Conservation District has received grant funding to help cost share tree planting projects. With this grant, producers may be eligible for up to 40% of the full project funding.
This funding can be utilized immediately, and ends June 30, 2023. We have seen an increasing interest in planting or replacing shelterbelts in our county. Many of these belts are past the forty year mark and are no longer serving their purpose of good wind or snow protection. Shelterbelts will lose their effectiveness due to age, neglect, storm damage, and disease. The cost to the landowners to renovate a shelterbelt is often prohibitive. Hamlin Conservation District is able to provide landowners with a cost share option to enable them to plant new rows, or entirely new belts. Livestock shelterbelts, wildlife habitats, field windbreaks, and riparian buffers would all qualify as planting projects. The new seedlings will be planted in spring of 2023. The cost share includes the planting and the fabric application.
As with any grants awarded to the district through the State of S.D., the cost share will be available to landowners/operators who are not eligible for any other funding through government programs. Cost share is not available for "farmstead only" plantings. All grants approved are obligated on a first come, first served basis, to those who qualify.
If interested in this program, please call the office at 605-783-3642 or at 605-881-5899. We will get you set up with an application to initiate the process.
We also have grant funding available for water projects. This grant utilizes a wide variety of livestock water developments to facilitate improved grazing management throughout both Hamlin and Codington Counties. Through this grant, we have been able to implement grazing management projects that enhance grassland in these watersheds and play a vital role in supporting high water quality in receiving lakes and streams. Specific conservation practices include pipelines, tanks, pasture pumps, alternative energy water pumps, rural water hook-ups, and shallow wells. This project is scheduled to end on 06/30/2022. The application process is simple. Please call!
