Since 1957, NCGA has stayed true to its mission of creating and increasing opportunities for corn growers throughout the United States. As part of this mission, our efforts across the sustainability sector have made waves for the advancement of land, water, and energy uses.
Taking our commitment to environmental sustainability one step further, NCGA has recently partnered with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever – the nation’s leading charities for upland wildlife habitat conservation – to provide our members with direct complimentary conservation planning services for pollinator habitat outcomes in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
Pollinator health is one of the leading sustainability issues in twenty-first-century agriculture. 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, NCGA can assist growers with profitability and sustainability measures on their farms for win-win scenarios.
“Pollinator habitats are vitally important, even though we don't think about it in corn production, that need for pollinators, but we begin to see that it’s not just the pollinators, but the beneficial insects that also come in that can help alleviate some of the need for certain pesticides,” said Nebraska corn grower and NCGA Corn Board member Brandon Hunnicutt. “When we introduce those habitats, we introduce a whole new set of insects around it, and it becomes very important as we're looking at how we can reduce some of our environmental footprint, which includes being really aware of what we're using for crop protection products.”
Want to learn how to build your own field of pollinator dreams? To receive a free, on-farm acreage analysis, contact Brent Rudolph, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever director of sustainability, at 517-980-4570 or email pollinator@pfqf.org; or contact Gretchen Flanley, NCGA Biotechnology and Crop Inputs consultant, at flanley@ncga.com.
For additional pollinator resources and best management practices, visit ncga.com/pollinators.
And to hear Brandon Hunnicutt’s full interview on sustainability and pollinators, visit Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network’s article “Corn Production is Becoming Even More Responsible and Sustainable.”