This grant provided funding to the North Carolina Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation to implement an outreach program through conservation districts to improve pasture management and ensure drought resilience. Floods, fires and drought conditions at the time of the grant had left pastures in poor condition. The program provided technical resources and training to farmers through the NC State Cooperative Extension, NC Cattlemen’s Association, NC Farm Bureau, NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Golden LEAF funds were used to provide pasture renovation equipment to soil and water conservation districts, which rented the equipment to farmers for use. Pasture renovation was expected to increase yield by $120 per renovated acre. The project expected to fund equipment for 10 to 20 counties, supported pasture demonstrations and local technical support teams, and provided training opportunities for producers, landowners, technical service providers, District and Extension staff, and others through on-farm pasture management field days.
