A government program is rewarding farmers and landowners for being environmentally conscious.

The Conservation Stewardship Program, which is facilitated in Bemidji by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, enters select applicants into a five-year contract where they’re rewarded with federal money for taking part in nature-friendly initiatives.

These often include brush management, forest work and crop control. There is also a new initiative in Beltrami County that is looking for new sources of pollen, like flowers and other plants, for bees and butterflies.

For one man and his large property, this program has made a difference.

Learn more about the story here.

By — Jackson Brunner