Nick Richter
News stories, press releases, and field reports from LPCI
Chicken Challenge | Test Your Knowledge of Lesser Prairie-Chickens (4/18/2019)- Test your lesser prairie-chicken knowledge with our new web-post series: the Chicken Challenge. 
New FREE Low-Tech Riverscape Restoration Manual (4/10/2019)- Low-tech riverscape restoration manual available for FREE. Download now and implement these low-tech, low-cost stream restoration efforts.
Conservation Successes – 2018 LPCI Scorecard (4/2/2019)- The new 2018 LPCI Scorecard highlights our conservation achievements since 2016.
Woody Invasion in the Great Plains Diminishes Water Resources (3/26/2019)- Science to Solutions - New research details impacts to water from encroaching eastern redcedar and other conifers on landscapes in the Great Plains.
Conservation Insight Report Confirms LPCI Projects Benefit Birds and Ranchers (3/21/2019)- New Conservation Insight Report Confirms LPCI Projects Benefit Chickens and Ranchers
WATCH NOW – Working Lands for Wildlife Presentations from Society for Range Management’s 2019 Conference (3/19/2019)- Working Lands for Wildlife video presentations from the 2019 Society for Range Management Conference featuring new technologies that can help improve rangeland management in the West now available for viewing. 
Patterns in Rangeland Productivity and Land Ownership and What They Mean for Conservation (3/6/2019)- Ask An Expert: Dr. Brady Allred, University of Montana | Patterns in Rangeland Productivity and Land Ownership and What They Mean for Conservation
Pheasants Forever Provides Critical Support for Lesser Prairie-Chicken and Sage Grouse Efforts (2/27/2019)- Working Lands for Wildlife efforts like the Lesser Prairie Chicken Initiative rely on partnerships to help advance our work. Learn how Pheasants Forever, one key LPCI partner, works to benefit not only lesser prairie chickens but other birds too.
WEBINAR: Mapping Cross-Scale Transitions in Rangelands (2/21/2019)- WEBINAR | February 26, 2019 | 2 PM ET - Mapping Cross-Scale Transitions in Rangelands - Learn how the powerful Rangelands Analysis Platform can help improve rangeland management for livestock and wildlife. LEARN MORE
Meet the “New” West Working Lands for Wildlife communications team: Brianna Randall and Greg Peters (2/19/2019)- Tim Griffiths, West Working Lands for Wildlife Coordinator, introduces the communications team behind the Lesser Prairie Chicken Initiative and the Sage Grouse Initiative.
Research Says, Adjusting Grazing Practices Can Improve Prairie-Chicken Habitat (2/27/2018)- SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: A new study by researchers at Kansas State University identifies specific grazing practices that create the varied grassland habitat structure that lesser prairie-chickens need. 
Patch-Burn Grazing Fires Up Prairie-Chicken Habitat (1/3/2018)- SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: Hot off the press! New research shows that patch-burn grazing creates the mosaic of grassland habitat structure that prairie-chickens depend on. LPCI's latest Science to Solutions paper describes the research and its implications for range management.
Seeing the Prairie From a Coyote’s Eye View (12/27/2017)- FIELD REPORT; What does the prairie look like from a coyote's eye view, and why does that matter to lesser prairie-chickens? LPCI range conservationist Marina Osier, based in Lamar, Colorado, answers this question in her recent field report.
A Tale of Two Fires: Prescribed Fire Thwarts Wildfire on the New Mexico Prairie (11/29/2017)- NEWS: Two lightning-caused wildfires on the same site in eastern New Mexico yielded profoundly different results. Why? Prescribed fire played a key role.
Prairie Grouse Meeting Showcases Latest Prairie-Chicken Research (10/25/2017)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Emerging research on lesser prairie-chickens took center stage last week at the 32nd annual Prairie Grouse Technical Council meeting in Dickinson, North Dakota, where more than 60 researchers gathered to share findings.
Keeping the Grass in CRP Grasslands—LPCI and the Dust Bowl legacy (10/9/2017)- LPCI NEWS: The Dust Bowl's legacy has profoundly shaped ranching and wildlife conservation in the southern Great Plains. LPCI helps ranchers like Abell keep grasslands in grass with technical and financial assistance to transition their expired Conservation Reserve Program acreage to sustainable grazing.
Texas Ranchers Gather for How-to on Wildlife-Friendly Grasslands (10/5/2017)- NEWS: More than 40 agricultural producers gathered recently at Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in Texas for an LPCI workshop on managing rangelands to improve wildlife habitat.
New Kansas Conservation Easement Protects Lesser Prairie-chickens (9/26/2017)- NEWS: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has finalized permanent conservation agreements with three private landowners to conserve 3,682 acres of high-quality lesser prairie-chicken habitat in northwestern Kansas. 
Fire + Grazing Reduces Wildfire Fuels, Helps Prairie-Chickens, New Research Shows (9/25/2017)- NEWS: New research shows that patch-burn grazing, which mimics historic patterns of fire and grazing, significantly reduces wildfire fuels. What's more, it creates the kind of habitat structure lesser prairie-chickens need. Read about what the research found >
Final Report Released on 2017 Lesser Prairie-Chicken Aerial Survey (9/18/2017)- The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has released the detailed report of the 2017 aerial survey of lesser prairie-chickens. Read all about it!- New Conservation Agreements Protect Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat (8/29/2017)- NEWS: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has finalized permanent conservation agreements with a private landowner to conserve high-quality lesser prairie-chicken habitat in south-central Kansas.
USDA Releases Five-Year Strategy to Boost Forest Health and Help Golden-winged Warbler (8/9/2017)- NEWS: A new five-year conservation strategy details efforts to support private landowners managing for healthier forests in the Appalachian Mountains. It's part of an ongoing effort to help the golden-winged warbler rebound.
New Video Shows how LPC Range-wide Plan Works For Wildlife and Landowners (7/31/2017)- NEWS: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has released a new video show how the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan is conserving habitat for this grassland grouse.
Aerial Surveys Confirm Lesser Prairie-Chicken Population Holding Steady (7/7/2017)- NEWS: Results are in for the 2017 lesser prairie-chicken aerial survey, and they’ve brought welcome news. The survey indicates an estimated breeding population of 33,269 birds this year, up from 24,648 birds counted last year. Read all about it! >
Prairie-chicken Restoration Efforts Take Flight in Southeast Colorado (6/19/2017)- LPCI NEWS RELEASE: Why did the lesser prairie-chicken cross the state line? If Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) biologists are successful, the answer will be to rebuild populations of this uncommon prairie grouse, which has mostly disappeared from the grasslands of the southeast corner of the state. Read about the relocation project >
New Conservation Strategy Series: Prescribed Grazing Builds Healthy Grasslands (6/15/2017)- Hot off the Press! Check out the latest offering in LPCI's Conservation Strategies Series, which spotlights LPCI's core conservation strategies, Our latest fact sheet highlights prescribed grazing--a conservation practice that builds soil health, drought resiliency, and grassland productivity.
New Mesquite-Removal Factsheet Spotlights Conservation Strategy for Landowners (6/9/2017)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: The latest offering in LPCI's Conservation Strategies Series gives private landowners an overview of the hows and whys of mesquite removal as a core conservation practice that benefits both ranch operations and prairie wildlife.
LPCI Range and Wildlife Conservationist Position Open in Oklahoma (6/7/2017)- Application Deadline: June 16th Location: Buffalo, Oklahoma Anticipated Start Date: July 3rd, 2017 Overview: This position is located within the USDA Service Center in Harper County, Oklahoma, and will deliver conservation technical assistance to ranchers, producers, and private landowners within the counties of Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woods, Woodward & Ellis, Oklahoma. This position will deliver […]
Research Sheds Light on Nocturnal Habits of Lesser Prairie-Chickens (6/6/2017)- NEWS: Until recently, scientists had very little data on the bird's after-hours behavior and habitat preferences. Researchers from Oklahoma State University are filling int he blanks.
Texas Field Trip Showcases Lesser Prairie-Chicken Conservation (6/2/2017)- NEWS: A Texas Panhandle meeting and field trip organized this spring for regional field staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) highlighted efforts on public and private land to conserve the lesser prairie-chicken.
Putting Conservation Easements to Work for Ranchers and Wildlife (5/16/2017)- NEWS: Conservation easements are another voluntary practice in LPCI's conservation toolbox that can provide long-term benefit to both landowners and wildlife. Learn how conservation easements keep working ranches working and prairie-chickens booming.
Wildlife Journal Spotlights Lesser Prairie-Chicken Conservation (5/15/2017)- NEWS: Lesser prairie-chickens take top billing in the latest issue of The Wildlife Professional, trade journal of The Wildlife Society, an international scientific and educational association dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship.
New LPCI Field Staffer Helps Landowners Help the Land in Colorado (4/24/2017)- LPCI NEWS RELEASE: LPCI's field staff team is an essential part of our conservation outreach. Meet our newest field staff member, Marina Osier, based in southeast Colorado.
New Mexico Range Managers Put Science to Work for Prairie-Chickens (4/14/2017)- LPCI NEWS RELEASE: For wildlife biologist Randy Howard, a new mapping tool developed by lesser prairie-chicken researchers is an essential part of restoring habitat for grassland-dependent wildlife. Read about this great example of "actionable science."
WAFWA Reports on 2016 Conservation Efforts, Including Permanent Land Protection (4/12/2017)- NEWS: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies released its third annual report detailing conservation efforts in 2016 on behalf of the lesser prairie-chicken. Read the highlights and access the full report >
LPCI seeks proposals for videography package (4/11/2017)- JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative is seeking proposals from videographers to fulfill a multi-media outreach package. Download the RFP >
LPCI Featured Friend: Pheasants Forever (3/31/2017)- FEATURED FRIEND: Meet the Pheasants Forever, one of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative's key partner organizations. Pheasants Forever plays an important role in overseeing LPCI's Strategic Watershed Action Team.
WAFWA to begin aerial surveys of lesser prairie-chicken habitat (3/15/2017)- NEWS: Aerial surveys of lesser prairie-chickens will begin March 17 and run through mid-May in five states containing habitat the bird needs to thrive. The surveys are conducted annually by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to assess population trends . 
10 Things You Can Do for Lesser Prairie-Chickens (3/14/2017)- NEWS: Whether or not you own prairie habitat, there's still a whole lot you can do on behalf of lesser prairie-chickens and other prairie wildlife species.
Lessons from the Heath Hen (3/11/2017)- NEWS: Eighty-five years ago today, the last living heath hen was seen for the last time. Though the effort to save the heath hen was unsuccessful, it laid the groundwork for today's conservation efforts.
Leading LPCI’s Effort to Conserve Prairie Wildlife and Ranching (3/1/2017)- NEWS: As LPCI’s acting coordinator, Manuel DeLeon is overseeing the effort to conserve habitat for lesser prairie-chickens across their five-state range. 
Chickens and Woody Encroachment: Research Presentations Available for Viewing (2/22/2017)- NEWS: On January 29, the Society for Range Management hosted an full-day symposium on the effects of woody encroachment on western grouse. The research presentations are now available for online viewing. Check them out!
New Role Coordinates LPCI’s Field Capacity, Deepens Partnerships (2/9/2017)- NEWS: After four years as a wildlife biologist on LPCI's Strategic Watershed Action Team, Texan Jordan Menge steps into a new role as capacity coordinator for SWAT staffers across the southern Great Plains.
Science to Solutions: New Mapping Tool Helps Target Woody Encroachment (1/30/2017)- SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: A new high-resolution mapping tool will help range managers better manage woody encroachment and conserve prairie grasslands. Our latest Science to Solutions summarized the research.
Science Reveals Sage Advice: Cut (the Right) Trees to Save the Bird and the Herd (1/25/2017)- NEWS: What do America’s prairies and sagebrush have in common? Ranchers, for one. Grouse, for another. And, third, a woody plant invasion that's threatening to take over the healthy rangelands that support birds and people alike. 
Helping Texas Ranchers and Wildlife, One Plan at a Time (1/24/2017)- NEWS: NRCS Range Management Specialist Clint Rollins works one-on-one with agricultural producers in the Texas Panhandle to develop conservation plans that benefit wildlife and ranch operations. Read about it! >
Rangeland Science Journal Publishes Special Issue On Woody Plant Encroachment (1/12/2017)- PRESS RELEASE: This month, the Society for Range Management's scientific journal, Rangeland Ecology & Management, released a special issue focused entirely on the landscape-level threat of woody plant encroachment. Read the research reports and related Science to Solutions summaries >
Science to Solutions: Mesquite Encroachment Impacts Lesser Prairie-Chickens (1/10/2017)- PRESS RELEASE: New research study quantifies the significant impacts of honey mesquite encroachment on lesser prairie-chickens in the southern Great Plains. Read more > 
UPCOMING EVENT: Society for Range Management’s Annual Meeting, Technical Training & Trade Show (12/27/2016)- UPCOMING EVENT: The Society for Range Management annual meeting starts January 29. The meeting will include a one-day symposium showcasing research on reducing woodland expansion in the West to improve habitat for grouse. Read more here >
Latest LPCI Videos Showcase Prescribed Grazing, Redcedar Treatment (12/19/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Two new videos showcase core LPCI management practices: Prescribed grazing and redcedar removal. Take a look!
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: LPCI Seeks Graphic Design Services (12/12/2016)- JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative (LPCI) seeks an experienced graphic designer(s) to support the LPCI Communications Program. Proposals due by December 23.
NRCS to Expand Targeted Conservation Effort for Wildlife on Agricultural Lands (11/30/2016)- NEWS: From the northern bobwhite to trout and salmon, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is adding dozens of new target species to its Working Lands For Wildlife initiative.
FEATURED FRIEND: Meet the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (10/27/2016)- FEATURED FRIEND: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies plays a vital role in the scientific research that helps LPCI ensure that we're doing the right things in the right places to benefit lesser prairie-chickens. Learn about them in our latest Featured Friend story.
SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: LPCI Conservation Practices Boost Lesser Prairie-Chicken Occupancy (10/18/2016)- SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: A recent study—the first part of a multi-year research project—shows that lesser prairie-chicken occupancy increases in areas where landowners are engaged in LPCI conservation practices. - New Flyer Links Range Health and Productivity, LPCI Assistance (10/17/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Healthy range is productive range. That's the simple message in our latest outreach flyer for private landowners in the southern Great Plains. Check it out!
New study measures fence collision mortality, informs conservation (9/19/2016)- NEWS: A recent study of more than 1,700 miles of livestock fences in Kansas and Colorado found little evidence of fence collision mortality. Read about the report and its implications for lesser prairie-chicken conservation. 
Landowners Offer Ideas for Improving Habitat Conservation Assistance (8/1/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: A new report captures feedback from private landowners who met with NRCS staff in Denver to discuss the Working Lands for Wildlife program. Read the report >- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Delists Lesser Prairie-Chicken in Accordance with Court Order (7/20/2016)- NEWS: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) yesterday fulfilled a court ruling that had vacated its Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing decision, by officially removing the lesser prairie-chicken from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.
Featured Friend: Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (7/10/2016)- FEATURED FRIEND: Meet the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, a key partner within the NRCS-led LPCI partnership.
Fire Helps Kansas Rancher Restore Redcedar-infested Grasslands (7/6/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: When Tom Carr was a boy, redcedars were a rarity on his family's ranch lands in south-central Kansas. By the early 2000s, cedars had overtaken the grasslands. Through mechanical removal, prescribed fire, and an unexpected scorching from the Anderson Creek wildfire, Tom has removed most redcedars from his land and restored grassland health.
Latest Aerial Survey Documents Stable Lesser Prairie-Chicken Population Trends (7/6/2016)- NEWS: The 2016 lesser prairie-chicken aerial survey shows bird population trends remain fairly stable after five years of aerial survey data collection. While numbers were down from last year, biologists emphasize the fluctuating nature of prairie-chicken populations and the importance of habitat conservation.
Passion for Wild Things–A Poet’s Perspective on WLFW Conservation (6/20/2016)- Behind all the science and strategy, a deep caring for the land underlies enduring conservation efforts within the Working Lands For Wildlife program, beautifully rendered in poetic form. Read the poem >
New Magazine Highlights Conservation Successes on Working Lands, Including LPCI (6/15/2016)- NEWS: A new magazine from the NRCS-led Working Lands for Wildlife partnership highlights conservation successes for seven target wildlife species, including the lesser prairie-chicken.
Permanent Protection for Prairie-Chicken Habitat in Kansas (6/14/2016)- NEWS: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has finalized the purchase of approximately 30,000 acres of high-quality lesser prairie-chicken habitat in southwest Kansas. 
Western Livestock Journal Showcases LPCI Strategy (5/11/2016)- NEWS: LPCI's new Conservation Strategy takes centerstage in the May 6 edition of the Western Livestock Journal. Read the story here!
USDA Unveils Three-Year Conservation Strategy for Lesser Prairie-Chicken (4/28/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: The USDA today announced the release of a three-year conservation strategy that will guide the voluntary restoration of 500,000 acres of habitat for the lesser prairie-chicken. Read all about it >
LPCI seeks qualified vendors for filmmaking project (4/27/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative partner organization Pheasants Forever, Inc. seeks proposals from qualified vendors to create a multi-media outreach package for LPCI. Read the full RFP here.
New Study Measures Fire Impacts on Wildlife, Livestock in NM (4/12/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: A new research project tests the effects of prescribed fire on lesser prairie-chickens at the BLM's Sand Ranch east of Roswell, New Mexico. 
First in Conservation Strategies Series highlights Redcedar Removal (3/29/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: The first fact sheet in LPCI's new Conservation Strategies Series introduces landowners to a key strategy for prairie habitat conservation—eastern redcedar removal.
SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: Redcedar Removal Restores Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat (3/24/2016)- SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: The science is in! A new study resoundingly confirms that redcedar encroachment greatly impacts lesser prairie-chickens. Our new Science to Solutions paper tells how the science informs management. 
New Book Presents Current Knowledge of Lesser Prairie-Chickens (2/26/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: It’s here! The much-anticipated ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS has just been released by CRC Press, synthesizing current knowledge of the species across its diverse range.
New tool turns science into actions for working lands and wildlife (2/23/2016)- NEWS: Today, the Sage Grouse Initiative unveiled a new tool to catalyze and improve habitat conservation efforts across the western United States. Check it out!
USDA Invests $150 million in Conservation Stewardship Program Assistance for 2016 (2/8/2016)- NEWS: On February 4, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $150 million in funding is available for agricultural producers through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). 
How do Lesser Prairie-Chickens Survive the Winter? (2/2/2016)- FIELD REPORT: Biting winds, deep snows, frigid temperatures--how do prairie wildlife make it through the winter? LPCI wildlife biologist Amy Erickson reports in from Portales, NM, with her thoughts on winter survival strategies.
Tracks in the Sand (1/21/2016)- FIELD REPORT: LPCI wildlife biologist Amy Erickson explores the sand dunes of eastern New Mexico, where tracks in the sand reveal the presence of the many animals that live there. Read her blog >
LPCI Outreach Materials Offer Conservation Toolkit (1/12/2016)- LPCI Press Release: Throughout 2015, LPCI produced a range of outreach materials for landowners, resource managers, and the general public. A one-page fact sheet now provides quick links to the conservation toolkit.
NRCS and Texas Ranchers Team up for Conservation (1/7/2016)- NEWS: By taking part in voluntary NRCS conservation planning and range practices, Texas ranchers are conserving vital habitat for lesser prairie-chickens, State Conservationist Salvador Salinas reports at the annual Texas Commodity Symposium. 
New Report Highlights LPCI Conservation Across the Range (1/4/2016)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: New report highlights Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative habitat conservation successes across the lesser prairie-chicken's range in the Southern Great Plains. 
USDA Announces $50 Million to Help Producers Restore Habitat (12/15/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is making available about $50 million in financial assistance in 2016 to partner with agricultural producers who want to restore habitat for seven focus species, including the lesser prairie-chicken.
Latest Video Shows Roots of LPCI’s Win-Win Conservation (12/14/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: What's the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative about, in a nutshell? LPCI's latest video, hot off the press, gives an overview to our NRCS-led partnership.
The Role of Sand Sagebrush in Prairie Grasslands (12/3/2015)- FIELD REPORT: Roll the gray-green foliage of sand sagebrush between your fingers, and you’ll catch the spicy aroma of a plant that’s an important part of the prairie community—one that benefits livestock and wildlife alike. 
Texas Rancher Creates Habitat Legacy (11/19/2015)- NEWS: For third-generation farmer and rancher Steve Rader, diversity is the key to ranch sustainability. Read about how his range conservation practices are creating a ranching and habitat legacy in the Texas panhandle.
New Guide Explains LPCI Conservation Assistance Programs (11/16/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: A concise new LPCI publication sheds light on several key conservation assistance programs available to private landowners in lesser prairie-chicken country.
New Study on Habitat Use Yields Insights for Prairie-Chicken Management (10/14/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: A recently published research study examines factors affecting space use by female prairie-chickens at ten sites across the Great Plains. 
Kansas Rancher Puts Expired CRP Grasslands to Work for Cattle and Wildlife (10/13/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Kansas rancher Dwight Abell is shifting his expired CRP grasslands to cattle grazing with LPCI assistance, a win-win proposition for his cattle operation and prairie wildlife. 
LPCI Partners Awarded for Conservation Efforts (10/7/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Two Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative partners receive the Hamerstrom Award for their important contributions to prairie grouse conservation. 
LPCI’s Latest Video Shows Win-win Role of Prescribed Fire (9/28/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: LPCI's latest video shows the win-win nature of prescribed fire for ranchers and prairie chickens. The story's told through the eyes of Kansas ranchers Ed Koger and Bill Barby. Don't miss this compelling 5-minute video.
Historic Partnership Averts ESA Listing for Greater Sage-Grouse (9/23/2015)- NEWS: On September 22, 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that voluntary sage grouse partnerships helped prevent ESA listing of the greater sage grouse.
New LPCI Video Spotlights Conservation Reserve Program (9/22/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: How does the Conservation Reserve Program benefit lesser prairie-chickens and the private landowners who steward their habitat? A newly released 3-minute video from Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative answers that question. Take a look!
New Study Affirms Lesser Prairie-Chicken Research Practices (9/20/2015)- NEWS: New study demonstrates that the research techniques of capture and radio-tagging do not negatively influence the survival of lesser prairie-chickens. 
Texas Rancher Creates Haven for Lesser Prairie Chickens (9/14/2015)- NEWS: James Blackwell, a third-generation Texas landowner, has participated in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) since 1986, improving habitat for lesser prairie-chickens and other prairie wildlife. 
New England Cottontail: Another Success Story for Proactive Voluntary Conservation (9/11/2015)- NEWS: Landowners on the East Coast brought about a major success today with their voluntary conservation efforts for the New England cottontail. 
Conservation Reserve Program accepting more acreage for LPC habitat (8/5/2015)- NEWS: The USDA recently announced increases in the acreage of agricultural lands eligible for funding through the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement CRP program. 
Patch Burn Grazing Annual Meeting, August 26-28 (7/21/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Two outstanding ranch operations whose stewardship practices are making a real difference for lesser prairie-chickens are the featured field tour sites for the upcoming Patch Burn Grazing Annual Meeting.
New Mapping Tool Shows Woody Encroachment in LPC Habitat (7/6/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE. Researchers have developed a woody encroachment planning tool that will aide lesser prairie-chicken conservation.- Aerial survey shows 25% increase in lesser prairie-chicken population (7/1/2015)- NEWS: Abundant spring rainfall, along with ongoing conservation efforts, has helped increase lesser prairie-chicken populations approximately 25 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to the recently completed annual survey.
Range-wide Research Effort Sheds Light on Lesser Prairie-Chickens (6/20/2015)- NEWS: This excellent feature story in Science Magazine describes the unprecedented, range-wide research effort aimed at understanding lesser prairie-chicken habits, needs, and threats. Read it here.
Rancher Weathers Drought with LPCI Conservation Assistance (6/11/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Rancher Bill Barby of southwest Kansas weathered recent severe drought with the help of federal wildlife habitat enhancement programs. Read his story here.
LPCI Films Stewardship in Action (5/18/2015)- FIELD REPORT: Filmmaker Jeremy Roberts recently visited southwest Kansas with LPCI staff to film exemplary land stewardship practices by ranchers. Read about the filming and our upcoming videos.
Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-Wide Plan Reports Successful First Year (5/3/2015)- NEWS: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies released its first annual report on the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan, highlighting achievements. Read the story and report here.
Hot off the Press: Field Guide to the 2014 Farm Bill (4/28/2015)- NEWS: Don't miss the new 2014 Farm Bill Field Guide, a concise, accessible tool for understanding the 2014 Farm Bill, the largest source of federal funding for private lands conservation.
Lesser Prairie-Chickens Return to the Leks (4/10/2015)- FIELD REPORT: LPCI Field Staff wildlife biologist Amy Erickson reports from eastern New Mexico on the return of lesser prairie-chickens to their booming grounds, or leks.
Industry Funds Fuel Lesser Prairie-Chicken Conservation Partnership (3/3/2015)- LPCI PRESS RELEASE: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) announced plans to allocate $445,000 to the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative partnership to expand outreach to ranchers.
Just Add Water: Prairie Vegetation Responds to Rain (3/3/2015)- FIELD REPORT: LPCI field staff wildlife biologist Jake Swafford reports from Portales, NM, on the effect of 2014’s rains on the drought-stricken prairie.
NRCS Program Improves Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat (2/22/2015)- NEWS: Listen in to this 4-minute Playa Country Radio episode as Oklahoma rancher Loren Sizelove describes how participating in LPCI has allowed him to combat woody invasives on his ranch.
