Illinois Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever (PFQF) is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs. Primarily focused on private lands, PFQF works to help producers with management decisions that make sense for conservation and production on their farms.
Quail Forever joined the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership in 2019 and provides support to the Partnership’s edge of field programs. In August, the Partnership held their bi-monthly Steering Committee meeting on R Wildflower Farm and Fields in McLean County, where PFQF has been working with owner and operator Sally Lasser to increase habitat and biodiversity on her farm.
Members of ISAP and Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Society on R Wildflower Farm and Fields.
Sally welcomed the Partnership and the Illinois chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society to her farm and shared her family’s history and vision for the farm: to “give back to nature.” Dallas Glazik, Sally’s farm operations partner and Farm Bill Biologist with Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever, led ISAP members on a farm tour, showcasing the diversified crop rotation and the diversity of wildlife living on the working farm.
Farmer and owner Sally Lasser (left) and Dallas Glazik (right) welcome guests to the farm.
Sally and Dallas have worked together to enroll marginal crop acres in USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which provides financial assistance to agricultural producers to adopt or improve conservation activities and address priority resource concerns. In addition to the acres enrolled in CSP, Sally grows a diversified cover crop mix, utilizes prescribed burns on her fields, and in 2019, began implementing organic practices on the farm. The tour featured Monarch butterflies, honeybees, and ring-neck pheasants which are just a few of the many animals and insects that contribute to and support the biodiversity on R Wildflower Farm and Fields.
Dallas Glazik leads farm tour.
To learn more about Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever in Illinois, or to find out how to convert your marginal cropland acres into quality wildlife habitat, visit their website at www.ihuntil.com and reach out to a Farm Bill Biologist in your area.
