Grand Island, Neb. – January 31, 2008 –Nebraska landowners won’t want to miss the opportunity to receive free one-on-one advice from expert wildlife biologists and specialists versed in habitat programs at the Nebraska Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) 2008 State Habitat Meeting on Saturday, February 2nd in Grand Island. The state meeting is home to the popular Landowner Help Desk, where landowners can receive wildlife habitat advice from wildlife professionals at no cost.
The Landowner Habitat Help Desk is designed to give farmers and landowners site-specific information about conservation programs they can implement on their land. Biologists will use aerial photography, topography, and soils information to do individual planning. Landowners just need to bring the legal description of their property (township, range, and section). Through a one-on-one consultation, landowners will have the opportunity to learn about conservation and habitat options on their land available through federal, state and local programs.
Landowners who wish to visit the Landowner Help Desk should bring a legal description of their property in order to receive one-on-one habitat assistance from Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists with Pheasants Forever, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“We want to help landowners and farmers understand the high quality habitat and conservation options that they have access to,” said Pete Berthelsen, PF’s Sr. Field Coordinator, “The partners involved with this effort want landowners to have the best information and understanding about the habitat they might need, and what programs can assist them with their land use goals and decisions.”
Help Desk biologists will be fluent in federal conservation programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Those programs include the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), and Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP), to name a few. In addition to federal programs, the biologists will be knowledgeable about state and local PF conservation programs and will be able to discuss steps for enrolling in all eligible programs. Landowners will also be able to discuss potential cost-share options, as well as average land rental rates.
Held at the Midtown Holiday Inn, Saturday’s seminars will run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM with the state banquet beginning at 6 PM. All sessions at the Mid Town Holiday Inn are open to the public for a full-day price of $30 (includes lunch). You can register for the meeting online at www.NebraskaPF.com . The Saturday evening banquet at the Midtown Holiday Inn is open to members for $15 and non-members for $45, but limited to 250 attendees. All proceeds raised at the banquet will benefit habitat projects and youth events across the state. For all ticket info, checkout the website or call the PF State Office at (308)754-5339.
