Conservation News

Second Round of Applications Now Open for Soil Health and Habitat Program in Prairie Pothole Region

Purina grant offers financial incentives for farmers to increase sustainability and profitability

St. Paul, Minn. – Dec. 1, 2020 – Pheasants Forever has announced a second 30-day application period for farmers and ranchers to enroll in the organization’s Soil Health and Habitat Program, funded by pet care leader Purina. The program, designed to enhance soil health, protect water quality and increase wildlife habitat for more resilient farms, invites producers in the Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota to apply for precision ag and conservation solution incentives. The application period will close on December 30, 2020.

Utilizing precision agriculture technology as the foundation, Pheasants Forever will work with producers and growers to analyze data using Truterra™ Insights Engine from 30,000 acres of private lands in the Prairie Pothole Region to help enhance soil health, protect water quality and implement conservation planning for 7,200 acres. Results from the analysis will help guide enrollment of unprofitable acres into the program for habitat conservation. Landowners will receive a one-time incentive payment for grassland and the program will improve soil health on their best acres through cover crop mixtures and incentives.

“I applied for this program during its initial application phase because I understand that portions of our farmed landscape consistently underperform and are sometimes unprofitable. Those acres, when analyzed, are often well-suited for perennial vegetation,” stated Nathan Anderson, an Iowa farmer and recent cooperator enrolled in the Soil Health and Habitat Program. “Using cover crops on the adjacent crop acres can increase the habitat area used by pheasants and wildlife, complimenting the positive impact of the installed perennial vegetation.” Click here to watch the video of Nathan Anderson’s personal connection to the Soil Health and Habitat Program.

“Creating diverse habitat and critical nesting cover in the Prairie Pothole Region is essential to producing the healthy ingredients used in Purina’s complete and balanced pet food formulas,” said Jack Scott, Purina Vice President of Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing. “Thank you to the producers and growers who have already joined us as we work together with Pheasants Forever to make a positive and lasting impact.”

Soil Health and Habitat Program Guidelines:

Financial Incentives:

  • $150/acre one-time payment for habitat in South Dakota or North Dakota
  • $250/acre one-time payment for habitat in Iowa or Minnesota
  • $150/acre for seed and establishment cost share (based off actual receipts)
  • $20/acre for cover crop cost share

Terms

  • 5-year contract
  • Haying/grazing allowed outside of primary nesting season (

Other

  • Participating farmers will also receive Truterra Insights Engine Stewardship Report Card that includes a sustainability score and profits insights. Farmers will agree to provide agronomic practice information to establish baseline metrics

For more information about enrollment opportunities for Pheasants Forever’s Soil Health and Habitat Program, please contact the following state-specific program leaders:

State                    Contact               Phone                      Email

Iowa                    Josh Divan            (515) 708-2371         JDivan@PheasantsForever.Org

Minnesota           Tanner Bruse         (507) 360-2335        TBruse@PheasantsForever.Org

North Dakota      Rachel Bush          (701) 403-4853        RBush@PheasantsForever.Org

South Dakota      Matt Morlock        (605) 881-8258        MMorlock@PheasantsForever.Org

About Pheasants Forever

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 138,000 members and 760 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent over $900 million on 550,000 habitat projects benefiting 19 million acres nationwide.

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