Pheasants Forever’s 2019 Precision Ag Farmers of the Year
Meet Lee and Arthur Wisecup, father-son farming team from Missouri Valley Iowa who were selected for Pheasants Forever’s 2019 Precision Ag Farmers of the Year Award, presented by John Deere. The Wisecups first adopted precision agriculture technology in 2011 and more recently teamed up with Pheasants Forever to analyze their yield data from a profit/loss per acre perspective. The analysis revealed 262.94 acres within their operation that were losing money in the traditional rotation. As a result of the adoption of strategic conservation programs including pheasant/quail habitat, pollinators and water quality, they helped turn those ‘red’ acres ‘green’ for both improved economic performance and environmental outcomes.
Pheasants Forever’s precision ag vision is to demonstrate through the use of technology and collaboration, farmers will increase their profitability while also providing benefits for soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat. Pheasants Forever launched a national partnership with John Deere in 2018, who is interested in promoting wildlife habitat and finding innovative ways to help farmers, ranchers and landowners turn marginal, unproductive acres into more profitable wildlife habitat.