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The report finds that September 2024 was unusually warm across much of the U.S., with 171 of 191 analyzed cities experiencing warmer-than-normal temperatures. While the highest temperature anomalies occurred in the Midwest and northern Great Plains, the strongest climate change signals (CSI values) were concentrated in the Southwest and Florida.

Climate Central analyzed 2,041 U.S. monitoring stations from 1970 to 2023, finding that 64% of locations experienced a decrease in annual snowfall. The report highlights regional disparities, noting that while the western U.S. faces shrinking snowpack and increased snow drought, the Great Lakes region sees a trend toward more lake effect snow due to reduced ice cover, though the overall snow season is projected to shorten. These shifts threaten water security in the West, the winter recreation industry in the Northeast, and aquatic ecosystems in the Northern Great Plains.

The 2024 Plowprint report by WWF International tracks the cumulative footprint of cropland conversion in the Great Plains. In 2022, approximately 1.9 million acres of grasslands were converted to croplands across the US and Canada. While this is a slight improvement over the 10-year average of 2.6 million acres, the report emphasizes that current levels of loss remain unacceptable. The analysis highlights that 55% of Great Plains land remains intact, with Tribal lands showing higher conservation rates at 80%. The report advocates for strengthening the Farm Bill, expanding the Sodsaver provision, and reforming biofuels policies to reduce incentives for grassland conversion.

WWF's 2023 Plowprint analysis reveals that 1.6 million acres of grasslands in the US and Canadian Great Plains were plowed in 2021, contributing to a total loss of 32 million acres since 2012. The report identifies crop insurance subsidies and biofuels policies as primary drivers of this conversion. To combat this, WWF recommends that the US Congress use the Farm Bill to strengthen the Sodsaver provision, expand the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and protect Inflation Reduction Act funding. Additionally, the report supports the North American Grasslands Conservation Act and amendments to the Renewable Fuel Standard to ensure biofuels do not incentivize the conversion of native sod.

The document reports that 97% of 246 analyzed U.S. locations experienced an increase in average temperature during the period from December 25 to January 5 between 1969 and 2021. It details regional shifts in snowpack and precipitation, noting that winter is the fastest-warming season for most of the U.S., which increases the likelihood of precipitation falling as rain rather than snow.

The study found that actual harvest losses for corn (4.7%) and soybeans (4.5%) significantly exceed industry goals (1% and 3% respectively). These losses are primarily driven by combine settings and operator error, with smaller farms using less sophisticated equipment experiencing the highest losses. The report argues that reducing these losses could significantly decrease the pressure to convert natural prairies to cropland in the Northern Great Plains.

The document encourages individuals to plant pollinator gardens using native, organic wildflowers to support bees, butterflies, and birds, which produce nearly one-third of the world's food. It provides a step-by-step guide on selecting regional seeds, preparing soil, planting, and watering. Additionally, it highlights a collaboration between WWF and Air Wick to reseed 1 billion square feet of habitat in the Northern Great Plains, including a social media campaign running until June 1, 2022, to plant additional wildflowers.

The WWF-US Corporate Partnership Report for FY2021 outlines the organization's strategic approach to private sector engagement, categorizing partnerships into sustainable business practices, communications and awareness, philanthropy, and employee engagement. The report lists numerous corporate partners across various budget tiers, highlighting specific collaborations on issues such as plastic waste, deforestation, and climate targets. In FY21, income from these corporate partnerships accounted for 3% of the WWF-US office's total income.

The document reports that winter is the fastest warming season for most of the U.S., leading to a general decrease in fall and spring snowfall between 1970 and 2019. It details regional impacts, such as a 15-30% reduction in snow-derived freshwater in the Western U.S. since 1955, a shift toward rain over snow in the Northeast, and a shortened lake effect snow season in the Great Lakes region. These changes threaten water security for agriculture and municipalities, increase wildfire and drought risks, and negatively impact the winter recreation industry.

In 2020, approximately 1.8 million acres of grasslands were converted to cropland across the Great Plains, with 385,000 acres lost in the Northern Great Plains. For the first time since the report's inception, wheat has replaced corn as the primary crop driving this loss across the entire region. While the 2020 conversion rate was lower than the five-year average, nearly 10 million acres have been plowed since 2016. The report highlights policy mechanisms for conservation, including the North American Grasslands Conservation Act and the 2023 Farm Bill, and notes the threat of woody-encroachment as a significant, though separate, driver of grassland loss.

The 2022 Native Nations Partnership Report details conservation initiatives in the Northern Great Plains, focusing on the reintroduction of plains bison and black-footed ferrets. Key achievements include the growth of the Wolakota bison herd to nearly 1,000 animals and a 105% increase in black-footed ferret detections at the Fort Belknap Reservation in 2021. The report highlights the establishment of the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance (BNGA) as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the creation of a Buffalo Research and Education Center at Aaniiih Nakoda College. It also describes the 'Stronghold Working Group's' efforts to regain community participation in managing the South Unit of Badlands National Park within the Oglala Lakota Nation.

The document identifies agriculture and infrastructure as primary threats to nature, noting that 70% of biodiversity loss and 80% of deforestation are caused by agriculture, while 63% of the world's longest rivers are obstructed by dams. WWF's strategy is organized around four pillars: innovation and influence, conservation of critical landscapes, regenerative and resilient systems, and thriving people and communities. Key initiatives include promoting free-flowing rivers, sustainable protein systems, and reducing global food loss and waste. By 2030, WWF aims to achieve zero land conversion of native habitat in priority landscapes and protect the world's remaining free-flowing rivers.

The 2020 Plowprint Report finds that between 2014 and 2018, grasslands in the Great Plains were tilled at an average rate of four football fields per minute. In 2018, approximately 2.1 million acres were converted across the U.S. and Canada, though this was offset by a 2 million acre increase in perennial cover. Wheat is the primary driver of conversion in the Northern Great Plains, while corn and soy dominate conversion across the U.S. The report also introduces a new analysis of northern Mexico's grasslands and updates its tracking methodology to improve spatial resolution and accuracy.

The 2019 Impact Report for the Sustainable Ranching Initiative (SRI) details WWF's efforts to conserve grasslands in the Northern Great Plains (NGP). Key activities include expanding grassland bird surveys to 93 ranches, launching a sustainable beef pilot in Montana to improve supply chain traceability, and initiating a transition planning pilot in Nebraska to prevent the conversion of ranches to cropland. The report also highlights community resilience work, including $360,000 in support since 2014, and the 'Conservation Roadshow' which reached over 500 people in Montana to target conservation funding.

The 2018 Northern Great Plains Donor Report details WWF's efforts to conserve grassland ecosystems through several key pillars. These include a Ranch Transition Pilot Project to address the risk of 56 million acres of farmland changing hands, and the development of a soil suitability model extending into Canada to predict crop conversion. Bison restoration efforts aim to establish five conservation herds of at least 1,000 bison each by 2025, with significant progress made at Fort Peck Reservation. For endangered species, WWF is testing Fipronil and vaccine baits to combat sylvatic plague in black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs. Additionally, the report highlights the Tribal Working Group on Sustainable Financing's work on tourism assessments and conservation planning for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, alongside collaborations with the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef to implement sustainability metrics in the beef supply chain.

The Sustainable Ranching Initiative (SRI) works to conserve the Northern Great Plains by supporting sustainable land management practices among cattle ranchers. Since 2014, the SRI has provided over $180,000 in support to ranching communities, impacting over one million acres and reaching over 1,200 participants through educational events. The initiative also focuses on market-driven sustainability through the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB), aiming to create transparent supply chains and reward sustainable production. Conservation efforts are supported by bird surveys on over 60 ranches, protecting more than 600,000 acres of grassland that maintain water quality and biodiversity.

The 2018 Plowprint Report by WWF International documents the conversion of grasslands to cropland in the Great Plains and Northern Great Plains (NGP). While overall conversion decreased in 2017, South Dakota experienced an increase in grassland loss. The report highlights the ecological and financial risks of plowing marginal soils, which leads to soil erosion and expensive water treatment for downstream communities. It urges the US government to use the 2018 Farm Bill to strengthen conservation programs like the Sodsaver policy, CRP, and EQIP to protect remaining intact grasslands.

The 'Experience the Range' guide outlines a collaborative educational program between teachers and ranchers to teach students about rangeland ecology in the Northern Great Plains. It provides administrative checklists for both parties, a five-step 'Design Thinking' model for students to develop solutions to range problems, and a sensory-based activity guide covering livestock, plants, soil, wildlife, landscape, and human and range issues.

The report evaluates the environmental impacts of replacing conventional hen feed with three alternatives: black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal, processed food waste feed, and bakery by-product meal. While bakery meal is the only option that does not increase overall environmental impacts, BSFL and food waste feed show significant benefits in reducing land use. The study highlights a critical trade-off where novel ingredients often increase greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption due to processing energy, though they can reduce the pressure to convert native habitats like the Northern Great Plains into commodity cropland.

The document details the environmental threats posed by agriculture and infrastructure, such as the fact that 70% of biodiversity loss and 80% of deforestation are caused by agriculture. WWF's strategy focuses on four pillars: conservation of critical landscapes, creating regenerative and resilient systems, strengthening transboundary governance and sustainable finance, and reducing food loss and waste. By 2030, the organization aims to achieve zero deforestation and land conversion in priority landscapes, halve the environmental footprint of food systems, and protect and restore rivers.