With an active CRP signup, right now is the perfect time to create a personalized precision ag and conservation plan
The Waldera's farm sits in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. Though the area is mostly regarded as big whitetail country, it is also home to wild pheasants, turkey, trout and more. Cousins Derek and Philip Waldera are dairy cattle and grain farmers, but they are also passionate conservationists who are incorporating wildlife habitat into their agricultural operations.
Implementing a large variety of conservation practices on their property, the Waldera's use cover crops and no-till to protect their soil quality, reduce runoff and prevent erosion. Alongside timber management and invasive species removal, they have also created prairie strips on the edges of their crop fields. They selected the sites for the prairie plantings based on what areas of their fields were consistently not turning out a profit.
"We took our current yield maps from the past three years and analyzed profitability. Those low profit areas we planted prairie. Where we planted prairie, we're still able to collect income through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and benefit deer, turkey, pheasants, all the insects, eagles and everything."
Pheasants Forever's precision ag specialists work with landowners like the Walderas to identify low production areas of an ag operation and then connect them to funding and technical assistance for converting those areas to wildlife habitat. Whether it's low spots that flood out or hard edges with overhanging branches that cause damage to planters, Pheasants Forever can create a customized management plan that fits the unique needs of each operation. It's a win-win for landowners and wildlife.
"The Waldera's were quick to invite me to the farm to showcase their family dairy cattle and grain farm of about 1,000 acres in the Driftless Region of western Wisconsin," says Scott Stipetich, Wisconsin senior precision ag & conservation specialist. "Derek and Philip identified additional areas that were profitable but were inefficient to farm and better suited for wildlife habitat. Together, with some program support from USDA, they planted those acres into monarch and pollinator prairie. I continue to work with the farm as they bring up new conservation practice ideas and help to create timelines and technical advice on how to accomplish their goals."
Native forbs and grasses like the ones found in the Waldera prairie planting are essential habitat for upland birds, especially in landscapes witnessing habitat loss over time. This upland habitat has literal downstream effects, which matters in an area known for its superb trout fishing. Prairie strips and stream buffers help to filter out silt and excess nutrients that could harm aquatic life. For the Waldera family, who are also implementing trout stream restoration on their property, tying in these practices just makes sense.
"Both Derek and Philip are wildlife enthusiasts. Family is also really important to them because almost all hunting stories begin and end with their children as active participants in the hunt."
This passion for conservation and leaving the land better than they found goes beyond the Waldera farm. They are also an active part of the Buffalo Trempealeau Farmer Network (BTFN), which is a watershed level farmer group that encourages sharing conservation practices and agronomic BMPs to further advance goals of reducing soil erosion and improving water quality in the area. These community-led efforts have been essential for farmers to share ideas, learn about programs, and support each other via land stewardship efforts.
Wisconsin landowners looking for wildlife or conservation-minded farm business planning support can contact Scott Stipetich at sstipetich@pheasantsforever.org. Pheasants Forever's precision ag specialists throughout the pheasant and quail ranges can help identify areas of low yield, create customized management plans and connect landowners with financial and technical assistance.