North Dakota Pollinators Get a Boost From Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists

Pheasants Forever views the recent White House Pollinator Health Task Force report as validation of the conservation benefits of land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for pollinators, pheasants, and agricultural producers in North Dakota. Highlighted in the White House document is the importance of land enrolled in CRP and its role for creating a diverse mix of flowering plants and prairie grasses critical to pollinators and upland birds. The organization’s Farm Bill biologists are experts at assisting North Dakota farmers and ranchers in navigating these new conservation program opportunities, while also boosting producer’s bottom lines.
 
Based upon honey production statistics from the U.S Department of Agriculture, North Dakota is the nation’s top state for pollinators. North Dakota is also second in the nation for pheasant harvest. These distinctions can largely be attributed to the 1.52 million acres enrolled in CRP across the state. However, 1.8 million North Dakota CRP acres have been removed from the program since 2007. Those converted CRP acres are one of the primary reasons for America’s massive decline in habitat for pheasants, pollinators, and other wildlife. If used correctly with high-diversity seed mixes, CRP can deliver environments which encourage pheasant broods while maintaining food sources for pollinating species including honey bees and monarch butterflies throughout the growing season. 
 
In addition to honey production, North Dakota is also the top producer of bees for pollination services around the country. In fact, North Dakota bees are vitally important to many of the foods Americans consume. “Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill biologist program has been crucial to the livelihood of many North Dakotans, including our family business at Browning’s Honey,” said Zac Browning, owner of Browning’s Honey located in Jamestown. “Working firsthand with a biologist on our farm, they are an incredible resource for farmers and ranchers interested in wildlife habitat, pollination services, or both.”
 
Farm Bill biologists are specialized consultants in conservation programs and habitat planning whose purpose is to assist landowners in designing, developing, and funding habitat improvements on private land. In North Dakota, a total of five biologists have played a pivotal role in the delivery of voluntary conservation programs used by farmers and ranchers. By using the Conservation Reserve Program – America’s most successful conservation platform for soil, water and wildlife – North Dakota biologists have assisted in the improvement of more than 400,000 acres and provided technical assistance to more than 5,000 landowners since 2009. These landmark achievements have far-reaching implications for wildlife and food production in the United States.
 
“I consider Rachel Bush, as a Farm Bill biologist for Pheasants Forever in North Dakota, to be a wonderful resource for farmers and ranchers in the Jamestown area,” said David Barnick, farmer and operator in Stutsman County. “The conservation services offered by Pheasants Forever have created financial incentives for my operation by utilizing CRP within the unproductive areas on the farm. By targeting these acres, we are leaving only our best ground in production and protecting important resources for the future of North Dakota.”
 
Through a partnership between Pheasants Forever, North Dakota Game & Fish Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and North Dakota Natural Resources Trust, Farm Bill biologists are available in NRCS offices to assist landowners in their conservation options. In addition to providing technical assistance for the Conservation Reserve Program, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill biologists are also able to assist landowners interested in the North Dakota Pollinator Partnership – a project to restore or enhance 1,250 acres of privately-owned land, improving the quality of upland and pollinator habitat.
 
“A successful pheasant hatch and a banner honey harvest aren’t mutually exclusive – they both require upland habitat. Our biologists are key for delivering these successful programs for the vitality of North Dakota’s outdoor heritage, as well as the protection of family businesses across the state,” said Matt Olson, Pheasants Forever’s regional representative in North Dakota.
 
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 140,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $577 million on 489,000 habitat projects benefiting 12 million acres nationwide.
 
Photo: Farm Bill biologists in North Dakota work with farmers and ranchers to determine the best conservation practices to fit their needs. This valuable service increases bottom lines for producers while benefiting pheasants, pollinators, and associated livelihoods throughout the state.
 
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953