Rodale Institute and Propagate Awarded Major Grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to Advance Regenerative Agriculture Across the Midwest
Funding will expand organic and agroforestry technical assistance to grain and dairy producers in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
Propagate and Rodale Institute are proud to announce they have been selected to receive a $843,700 Conservation Partners Program (CPP) grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). This funding will support their joint project, "Regenerating Agricultural Landscapes in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio through Whole Farm Technical Assistance," advancing sustainable agriculture across over 3,000 acres of working farmland.
The project, one of 27 grants awarded nationally through the CPP’s historic $14.7 million slate, will expand whole-farm conservation efforts in the Upper Mississippi River Basin and Great Lakes Basin. Together, Propagate and Rodale Institute will deliver one-on-one support to grain and dairy farmers transitioning to organic practices, integrating cover cropping, conservation crop rotations, nutrient management, and the establishment of tree and shrub buffers such as riparian forest buffers, hedgerows, and shelterbelts.
Propagate, a leader in agroforestry project development, will partner with Rodale Institute to offer customized tree and shrub establishment services, leveraging its experience supporting 50+ clients across 20,000 acres of agroforestry transition. Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), a leader in Midwest organic agriculture education, will also collaborate as a technical assistance and communication partner, tapping its extensive network of growers and regenerative agriculture experts.
“Midwest farmers are stewards of some of the most productive land in the world and they’re looking for practical tools to keep it that way,” said Ethan Steinberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Propagate. “This work is about meeting farmers where they are. By combining Propagate’s agroforestry expertise with Rodale Institute’s leadership in organic agriculture, we’re delivering farmer-first support to help grain and dairy producers adopt practices that improve soil health, manage risk, and unlock long-term value from their land.”
“Increasing biodiversity and expanding ecosystem services are core principles of regenerative organic agriculture. That is why Rodale Institute is proud to support the adoption of conservation practices on farms in the Upper Mississippi River Basin and Great Lakes Basin,” said Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Tkach. “With technical assistance from the Institute and Propagate, producers enrolled in this program will advance both their land management practices and opportunities for revenue.”
In addition to expanding organic farming practices, the project will:
Create and sustain jobs in conservation and technical assistance
Accelerate farmer participation in NRCS Farm Bill programs
Restore 3,000 acres of riparian and field buffer habitat
Help farmers capture new market opportunities through improved soil health and ecosystem services.
Funding for this grant is made possible through the Conservation Partners Program, a collaboration between NFWF, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, The J.M. Smucker Co., General Mills, Walmart, and Sam’s Club.
Since 2011, the Conservation Partners Program has awarded more than $85 million in grants, leveraging over $107 million in matching contributions to deliver critical conservation benefits across America’s working lands.
For more information about Rodale Institute, visit www.rodaleinstitute.org. To learn more about Propagate’s agroforestry services, visit www.propagateag.com.
