North America loses 2 million acres of grasslands to crop production annually.

Nearly 2 million acres of North American grasslands are being plowed each year for corn, soybeans and wheat, according to a World Wildlife Fund survey released this month. The study, which mapped satellite images and field data across the United States and Canada, found that the loss rate has accelerated over the past decade. The conversion is happening mostly in the Great Plains, the Prairies and the Upper Midwest, where vast stretches of native prairie once supported wildlife and stored carbon.

Grasslands are a critical ecosystem. They hold more carbon underground than most forests, help filter water, and provide habitat for pollinators, birds and mammals. The push to grow commodity crops has been driven by rising global demand for food, animal feed and bio‑fuel feedstocks. U.S. and Canadian farm policies, including subsidies for corn and soy, have made it financially attractive for farmers to replace native grasses with high‑yield fields. Climate change also plays a role, as hotter, drier conditions make some marginal cropland appear more viable for irrigation‑intensive crops. The loss of prairie reduces biodiversity, releases stored carbon and undermines soil health, threatening long‑term agricultural productivity.

Conservation groups are urging policymakers to halt the trend. The WWF report calls for stronger protections for remaining grasslands, incentives for farmers to adopt regenerative practices, and a revision of subsidy programs to reward ecosystem services rather than sheer output. Federal agencies in the United States are reviewing the findings as part of the upcoming Farm Bill negotiations, while Canadian provinces are considering land‑use planning reforms. Scientists say that reversing the loss will require coordinated action across government, industry and landowners, and that every acre preserved can help meet climate goals and safeguard food security for future generations.