Farmers that have been participating in the conservation reserve program’s Highly Erodible Land Initiative, may be doing more than just saving soil.
The Natural Resources Conservation in Adel says that this program will potentially help pheasant and other wildlife habitats.
“Overall, it would give more wildlife a place to live.”
The program is designed to conserve soils that are prone to erosion until they are more grassy. This is done through seeding perennial vegetation on land with an eroadability index of 20 or greater.
Many of the grass seeds that are planted, which can be cost-shared with the program, directly affect ring-necked pheasants and bobwhite quails, which rely on the grasses for food and cover.
Land owners interested in participating in the HELI have until the end of the month to apply with the Conservation Reserve Program.