MISSOURI VALLEY, IOWA (March 21, 2019) — The father/son duo of Lee and Arthur Wisecup of Missouri Valley, Iowa, are the recipients of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's Precision Farmer of the Year Award, sponsored by John Deere. The recognition honors the Wisecups’ conservation ethic and was presented at the Precision Ag Workshop at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic.
The Wisecups have employed precision-agriculture and conservation practices on their southwest Iowa farm to boost per-acre profits on the family-farm operation. Specifically, the Wisecups worked with PF Precision Ag & Conservation Specialist and Farm Bill biologist to analyze their entire operation and identify unprofitable areas. With the help of a precision ag technology partnership involving Pheasants Forever, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Heartland Co-op, EFC Systems and USDA Farm Bill Programs, the family duo was able to create 262.94 acres of new wildlife habitat, including:
- 218.36 acres of restored wetlands that improve water quality;
- 27.28 acres of pollinator habitat, which is also brood-habitat for pheasants and quail; and
- 17.30 acres of bobwhite-quail habitat
“Our family is very grateful for the award presented by Pheasants Forever and John Deere,” stated Lee Wisecup, western Iowa producer. “We would like to thank our team at Pheasants Forever, Iowa’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Heartland Co-op and EFC Systems. Without their knowledge, we were having a hard time showing our landlords the benefits of sustainable farming and how to remain profitable. We are one of the many examples that farmers truly care about the environment and the land they utilize.”
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s role in precision agriculture and conservation focuses on maximizing return-on-investment (ROI) for every acre on the farm while improving wildlife habitat, water quality and soil health. "The Wisecups have been pioneers in turning red acres green. They have demonstrated how data and technology can improve a farmer's bottom line while enhancing and increasing natural resources,” said Ryan Heiniger, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's director of agriculture & conservation innovations. "We applaud them for the stewardship of their farm and on behalf of ‘The Habitat Organization,’ are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them."
For more information about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s precision agriculture and conservation efforts, please contact Ryan Heiniger by email at rheiniger@pheasantsforever.org or by phone at (319) 768-8348.
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 740 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $867 million on 540,000 habitat projects benefiting 18 million acres nationwide.
