JACKSON CENTER, Ohio – The National Corn Growers Association will be partnering with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever for the second year in a row to help increase pollinator and wildlife habitat in corn-producing states.

Funded by the National Corn Growers Association’s Production Technology Access Action Team, this collaboration will initially focus on producers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio, with further room for expansion down the road, officials said.

“Pollinator health is a leading sustainability issue in 21st-century agriculture,” said Patty Mann, Jackson Center, Ohio, grower, and Production Technology Access Action Team vice chair. “As public interest in pollinator health continues to increase, stakeholders in this discussion – our members and producers, nationwide – have a critical role to play for implementation.

“By partnering with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, the National Corn Growers Association can assist growers with profitability and sustainability measures on their farms for win-win scenarios,” she added.

She said pollinators are essential to the health of upland bird habitat and “supporting the broader ecosystem across corn-growing areas,” which, in turn, also supports the long-term prosperity of corn growers. She added when pollinator habitat is made a priority, farmers often also see soil and water improvements in developed areas of their property.

According to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, pollinating insects are an essential component in global food production. Approximately one-third of all food and beverage products need pollination, yet many species of native pollinators and domesticated honey bees are in decline, the organization said.

Chris Kallis, who was recently promoted to vice president of corporate partnerships at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, said habitat that provides a diverse mixture of native flowering plants of different colors, shapes and sizes is what’s needed to support the life cycle of many pollinator species.

“Not only is pollinator habitat good for the bees, butterflies and beetles, it’s also excellent brood-rearing habitat for pheasants, quail and grassland songbirds,” he said. “Pollinator habitat attracts soft-bodied insects that pheasant chicks and other ground-nesting chicks rely on for survival during the first 6-8 weeks of life.

“Through this new partnership with the National Corn Growers Association, we can simultaneously support pollinators, pheasant broods, and an increased bottom line for corn producers,” he added.

Ben Forsythe, Indiana Soybean Alliance sustainability and value creation director, said, “The goals of Pheasant Forever and Quail Forever overlap our sustainability goals better than one may think at first look.

“A healthy pollinator habitat is a great habitat for pheasants and quail, and can lead to better crop production and better soil health for the landowners, producers and community, at large,” he said. “Often, there are many areas of a farm that can be put to a higher use, but end up being farmed, sometimes at a loss, because it is unknown what else to do with it.

“This partnership with Pheasants Forever – both within Indiana, and nationally with the National Corn Growers Association – works to help farmers identify those areas and achieve that higher use, creating a more sustainable system for more than just the corn and soybeans grown on the farm,” he added.

A Dec. 22 statement obtained by Farm World from the National Corn Growers Association, said, “The National Corn Growers Association partnered with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to support pollinators, including the Monarch Butterfly, through the development of new habitats.

“The broad reach of the Production Technology Access Action Team’s field team makes it a great fit for helping corn farmers identify a few acres that might be suitable pollinator habitats,” the statement added. “Their technical expertise will also help growers identify the right seed mix for those acres, and the best practices for establishing the habitat.”

For more information about the pollinator partnership, or to receive a complimentary field visit from a Farm Bill biologist, contact Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever by email, at: pollinator@pfqf.org, or Brent Rudolph, director of sustainability, at: (517) 980-4570.