Armstrong welcomes HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to North Dakota, stresses importance of soil health – North Dakota Office of the Governor (.gov)

The .gov means it’s official. Official North Dakota websites will end in .gov. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a government site.
The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you’re connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and sent securely.
The State of North Dakota provides automatic translation for nd.gov websites, courtesy of Google Translate. Please remember that the English language version is considered the most accurate. In the event of a disagreement or discrepancy between the translation and the original English version of this website or any notice or disclaimer, the original version will prevail.
MCKENZIE, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong today participated in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., stressing the importance of soil health to agriculture and the future of Americans’ health and well-being.
U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer hosted Kennedy at Black Leg Ranch near McKenzie for a discussion on regenerative agriculture with Armstrong, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, farmers and ranchers, and others. 
Armstrong highlighted last January’s launch of the Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program, a voluntary working lands program that incentivizes North Dakota farmers to strengthen cropland productivity and resilience with perennial grass cover, while improving soil health and water retention and creating wildlife habitat and access for hunters. A partnership between the state Game and Fish Department and the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts, the two-year, $6.5 million pilot project is fully subscribed with more than 9,000 acres funded for 2026.
“We appreciate Secretary Kennedy coming to North Dakota to discuss ag practices that improve soil health and farmland productivity and profitability, which will strengthen America’s food supply and support health in the long term,” Armstrong said. “As we explore ways to expand our program here in North Dakota, we look forward to working with our federal, state and local partners to promote the health and economic benefits to farmers, ranchers, sportsmen and all citizens.”
Copyright © 2026 Office of Governor, State of North Dakota
600 East Boulevard Avenue Bismarck, ND 58505-0100
Phone: 701.328.2200

source