FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019
2
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019
Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
And that’s a wrap
Hard work comes to fruition with successful GPHO By Eric Johnson newsroom@austindailyherald.com
Nancy Schnable walked across the reception area in front of the main banquet hall early Friday mor ning, cheerful and smiling, but needing something. “I need a hug,” she said. There were still two very long days ahead, but Schnable, executive director of Discover Austin, was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The planning was done, the organizing over. Now it was time for execution of the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener. By all accounts, the ninth annual event went off without a hitch. In the face of snow, wind and soggy conditions on the ground, 170 hunters hit the field Saturday for the hunt. When the morning hunt was over, 44 roosters were bagged. The night before, on Friday night, 457 people attended the banquet. “We have a wonderful committee of 30 people that have come together over the last year to put together the even here in Austin,” said Schnable, who is also a member of the GPHO committee. “The excitement when it was announced in 2018 is the same excitement … even more so now that we are hosting it in our own community.” The goals for hosting the hunt where to put Austin on the map and make people aware of everything Austin has to offer. There was also a massive dollar value for the community in hosting the event. “The economic impact, they said, just for advertising alone is over a $1 mil-
Jamie Carlson, right, congratulates Preston Schlichter on his kill during the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener Saturday. Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
lion and Discover Austin would never be able to do that without an even like this really is putting us on the map,” Schnable said. “It’s bringing in people that maybe wouldn’t have come to Austin before.” Sandy Forstner, retired executive director of Austin’s Chamber of Commerce, chaired the committee that first applied for and then guided the GPHO through planning. What stood out for him was the number of people that came together to make this event work. “What’s really kind of neat about this — I’ve worked on several community events over the years,” Forstner said. “This is really a collaborative effort
and it’s a number of organizations that have come together that nor mally haven’t worked together.” “They come in with different perspectives and
ideas,” he continued. “It’s really what has made it the most successful. Everybody’s excitement level is really high.” Forstner and others be-
ON THE COVER: Jamie Carlson walks in a field against the backdrop of the Cedar River during the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener Saturday.
gan formulating the idea in late spring and early summer of last year. The application was submitted in the summer of 2018 and the official announcement was at the banquet last October, when Luverne hosted the hunt. The city had to meet several requirements in order to secure the GPHO. “We started putting the application together and part of the application process, what they want you to demonstrate is that collaboration and also nothing the ability to organize an event of this scale,” Forstner explained. “We had letters from the community, soil and water conservation and the chamber and right down the list saying,
‘we’re all in and we know how do this and yeah, we want this event in Austin.’” The amount of exposure this event created for Austin and the surrounding area is a huge benefit of the GPHO. It demonstrates a community that is willing and able to support larger events, but it also shows that it can be a get-away. “It really, truly puts Austin on the map,” Schnable said. “Just the partnerships we’ve built from working with other organizations, I think will really help us going into the future to bring different organizations, maybe for conferences, m ay b e fo r m e e t i n g s, ” Schnable later said. “Really, bring back more visitors to the area.” While nothing specific has been planned, Schnable points to the success Luverne has enjoyed, as well as other communities who have hosted the GPHO. In particular, Luver ne is hosting an event called the Ringneck Round-up this month, something that was a direct result of the GPHO. “After we do our recap, we’ll figure out what we want to do,” Schnable said. In the meantime, Austin and the committee can bask in a successful GPHO. The exposure alone from media organizations will spread the word of Austin to 40 states and into Canada, Forstner explained. That possibly means more impact for Austin down the line. “The exposure that Austin is going to receive, not only for pheasant hunting, but for the community … it will be good for Austin,” Forstner said.
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019
3
Feet on the ground Hunt gives governor, lt. governor a chance to visit Greater Minnesota By Eric Johnson newsroom@austindailyherald.com
On a perfect fall Friday mor ning, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan watched as members of the Austin High School Trap Team fired on clay pigeons at the Cedar River Conservation Club. It was the second stop, after Flanagan made a stop at Woodson Kindergarten. “Give some books to the kiddos and also read to them,” Flanagan said. “It was just a really great way to start our time in Austin this weekend.” Later that after noon, Gov. Tim Walz stopped in to check out Riverland Community College’s combine simulator as well as stops to check out the soil lab as well as the nursing department and its anatomage table. Both were in town for the ninth annual Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener. “It’s huge,” Walz said. “I’ve been able to attend this three times as a member of congress. I look forward to this as much as anything. I think the sense of community that comes around it, the excitement I’ve always felt on the opening day of pheasant season, which you’re sharing with a whole bunch of friends.” While the main attraction of the event is the hunt itself, the GPHO is also a chance for Minnesota’s highest two offices to get into the community and explore what Greater Minnesota has to offer. It also gives an on-theground look at those efforts Minnesota is undertaking in order to support
its conservation traditions. “It’s been really incredible and I think it’s one of the reasons we live in the state of Minnesota,” Flanagan said. “We have a great and incredible environment around us. Hunting, fishing, just being in the outdoors is part of our way of life here and I think the pheasant opener is one of the ways we showcase that.” That commitment that Minnesota shares to preserving habitat was on full display during the GPHO. Not only is the state creating healthy habitat and supporting wildlife, it’s also a partnership that supports tourism in the state, and hunting is a big part of that. A long-time hunter, Walz pointed out the place of importance hunters occupy in the state of MInnesota. “Of course, it’s a legacy,” he said. “Minneasota has twice the number per capita hunters. It’s a tradition we care about. I think it runs deep into family. People come back years and years for these hunts.” “It’s the hunters, they buy their fees and licenses — that’s where the reveunes are generated for habitat preservation, for water quality protected wellheads and today, you get to see another opportunity where you see a private landowner working with the state to protect some these public lands,” He continued. “This legacy is huge and I think all of those things are positivie, but the one thing is it’s a huge part of our economic driver.”
Walz pointed out that hunting, fishing, mountain biking and camping, among other outdoor activities, are all up by $15 billion. “It’s a big part of economies,” he said. It’s one of those treasures we have and I think the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener is just mean to both highlight the community that’s hosting it and those activities.” D u r i n g t h e t wo - d ay GPHO, one of the standout
Photo courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources
moments was the official dedication of a Wildlife Management Area. The land in question was do-
Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Dan Sparks talk with FFA members during a visit to Riverland Community College Friday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan enjoys a laugh shortly before addressing the crowd at the Friday night banquet as part of the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. A total of 457 people attended the banquet. Photo by William Taufic
HONORING WITH THE HUNT One of the aspects that stood out from the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener was a special hunt on Friday for veterans. The veterans traveled to Three Arrows Game Farm, where guides and dogs were made available to them. It was a nice way to honor the veterans for their service and getting them out to do something they enjoy, but maybe haven’t been able to do in a while. Photos by Eric Johnson Left, Mike Hansen loads his gun as he prepares to hit the field for the veterans hunt, an event that ran in conjunction with the GPHO. Below, Veterans take part in the hunt at Three Arrows Game Farm.
HOME ON THE RANGE One of the activities during the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener was a chance for people to make use of the Cedar River Conservation Club to get some shooting in. The Austin Trap Team was also on site for people to watch and ask questions about their team. Photos by Eric Johnson
Cole Cannon takes a shot at a clay pigeon at the Cedar Valley Conservation Club.
Gov. Tim Walz celebrates after harvesting a rooster at the Saturday morning hunt during the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. It is Walz’s first hunt as governor.
Claire Bliese lines up a shot at the Cedar Valley Conservation Club Friday. Below, Derek Gunderson takes a shot as Noah Heimermann watches.
nated to the Austin Area Foundation by the Worlein family of Austin. The land will then be officially purchased by the local chapter of Pheasants Forever. That dedication is an ideal example of different groups coming together to help conserve the land around us. “It think it is really critical and something we should be proud of,” Flanagan said. “Just our commitment to habitat and just part of the folks like Pheasants Forever, who understand. This is part of who we are, our way of life.” The state is also an example of how both conservationists, farmers and the politicians of the state are finding common ground, something that maybe a lot of people in the state don’t get a chance to see. “I think, once ag ain southern Minnesota, I’ve said this since I was a member of Congress prior to that, we take it for granted how we collaborate together,” Walz said. “It’s not so common around the rest of the country, but this issue of habitat preservation, working to produce, because this area feeds the world. We’re sitting in food city, USA in
Austin, Minnesota. They can work hand-in-hand.” One place that maybe there wasn’t any working together was the hunt itself and the friendly competition between governor and lieutenant governor. During the Gover nor’s Walleye Fishing Opener in neighboring Albert Lea, Walz found himself on the losing end, but Flanagan, a first-time hunter, had no doubts how this time would go, as she admitted at Saturday’s send-off, she was at a disadvantage. On F lanagan’s Twitter page, she retweeted a tweet from the governor’s page saying, “I was smart enough not to bet @ GovTimWalz on getting a rooster. So a big congrats to this guy on bagging a bird just 30 min after hunting started!” F lana g an, however came up empty. It was still a chance to try something different, she explained Friday, before the hunt. “This will be my first time pheasant hunting,” she said. “The governor has been a pheasant hunter for a long time and it’s something I was excited to learn and something I think we can do together and it will be fun.”
Hard work pays off Those involved with GPHO are the engine to a great event Sometimes, all you need is to observe the world around you tell how an event turned out. I thought about this early Saturday morning, after showing up to the Holiday Inn Conference Center for the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener. The Holiday Inn was already a bustle of activity between the staff, guests, hunters, dignitaries and media. I was part of the bustle as I met my hunting group, talked to DNR staff to help me line up some things, and get some final interviews together for this tab. It was a lot of work, and I’ll admit that I spent a lot of time at the GPHO. From about 7:30 a.m. to late into the afternoon Friday, I was conducting more interviews, taking pictures and just plain running. Saturday was much the same, working on the GPHO from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. I’m not saying this because I want you to realize how much time I spent working. Yes, I worked a lot of hours, but this time is a drop in the bucket compared to those people who worked infinitely more hours to make this governor’s hunt something to remember. Instead, I want you to really think of how much time was spent on making sure this stayed with people long after their guns were put away and their rearview lights were pointed towards Austin. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h i s didn’t really hit me until this weekend when, for the first time, I had to work among these people. We knew of them, of course, and new they had been working on the event in some capacity since late spring, early summer when they first started to put together the presentation for the Department of Natural Resources.
Eric Johnson Austin Daily Herald Editor/Photographer
That was made known to me later; however, I didn’t officially know about it until the week it was announced in Luverne in October of last year. But after that, it admittedly fell off our radar. Not that we forgot about the GPHO, but our role was simply what it always is; Report the news when it happens. I didn’t know the exact amount of work they had to do until I talked to Discover Austin Executive Director Nancy Schnable the Tuesday before the event. She was clearly tired with a long way to go, but what was also evident was that she was dedicated to the GPHO. All the committee members were. By the time of Saturday’s breakfast, all the committee members were visibly tired. I was talking with Justin Hanson, who headed up the effort to get landowners, not long after I first got there when I first noticed it. But he was still in good spirits. Again, dedication. An event like the GPHO doesn’t go of f without dedicated people who are willing to spend hours and hours, days upon days working to make sure events such as these are the best they can possibly be. It’s also being able to show off the community when they get the chance. All of these people from committee chair Sandy Forestner on through the ranks are familiar faces when it comes to showing off Austin or the area.
Austin positively shined this weekend. Nothing was out of place, every hunter was accounted for. What they pulled off this weekend was a homerun to the upper deck and in my mind, as I watched the world around me, they absolutely put Austin on the map. This tells organizations and events from around the state that Austin is — as Schnable once told me — a destination. Not only for other events, but for people as well. Austin is a town that you want to come back to. This committee, and all of those others who played a hand in putting on the GPHO put on a spectacular show and I really do think that it will stick in people’s minds. I would imagine there were struggles, things that had to change at the last moment, or maybe things that just didn’t go the way they should. But the important thing to remember is that we didn’t know about them. This committee put together this event as if it was just a matter of fact. As I write this, however, I’m reminded of something a hunter said in the group I was in. We were on land owned by Gus Maxfield and struggling to find birds. By the hunt’s end, the group came away with two birds, but Jamie Carlson put it as well as it could be, even if he was talking about the hunting. “With the snow, it was better,” Carlson said. “The sun’s out, everybody gets their limit — it’s a perfect day, fun. But these days won’t leave my memories.” That’s what Austin has created. A memory that will be remembered for years to come. Kudos are deserved for everybody involved. What an event to put Austin at the center of the state.
4
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019
Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Solid base Landowners step up in quest for land By Eric Johnson newsroom@austindailyherald.com
A hunting event of any size, particularly like that of the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener, needs a variety of things to make sure it works. Hunting itself requires a few very specific things to make it work, in particular hunters and land. For something the size of the GPHO, the land was especially important because of the number of hunters that were expected. In the end, that number topped out at 170 hunters. That number alone was going to require an enormous amount of land that public land just wasn’t going to cover. That meant landowners were going to be required if this was going to work. “The fun part about the whole project has been all the different parts of the community that have come together to put this on,” said GPHO committee member Justin Hanson, who was in charge of getting together landowners for the hunt. “If we’re going to have a hunt and invite a bunch of people from outside of town to come down and hunt, we’re going to need land to hunt on.” Rounding up the land made Hanson a natural choice. Due to his work as
administrator for the Cedar River Watershed District, Hanson has already worked with many of the landowners. It’s a job that requires partnership as a major factor in the work Hanson and the CRWD does in order to insure water health. “Our connection, our work, it requires private land to do things,” Hanson said. “You can’t do anything without somebody standing up and saying, ‘I’ll do it.” It quickly became evident though just how much the committee was going to need the landowners. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources suggests to host communities that the ideal amount of land is around 4,000 acres, something Hanson saw as a struggle to reach, especially when Luvernre, 2018’s host city, struggled to find the land it needed. Late in the run, Luverne had managed to secure just 2,500 acres of land and was still securing land up until the last week. “I looked at that and thought, ‘4,000 acres? That’s all private land.’” Hanson said. “Landowners aren’t going to do this.” However, Hanson and the committee put together a letter for landowners in which they highlighted the work landowners have
The Ron Christianson table during the GPHO Landowner and Hunter Host appreciation dinner. Photos provided
Committee member Justin Hanson presents during the GPHO Landowner and Hunter Host appreciation dinner. done. The committee wanted to showcase the conservation work area landowners had done. But the letter went one step further, to try and interest the landowners a little more. In short, they asked landowners to tell them a story. “Write a little note and let us know what you’re background is,” Hanson said. “The acres just came pouring in.”
What Luver ne struggled with last year, Austin excelled in, wrapping up the 4,000 acres by June 1. What the letter did was interest landowners into the event, but at the same time, Hanson said it came down to people. “I just think it’s a great reflection of the people around here. Good people,” Hanson explained. “‘Come on, come out to my land. If I have to something
extra to make this happen then I’m willing to do that to have a good event.’” It wasn’t just a ploy, however, to get landowners to put up their land for use. It was just another aspect of the partnership Hanson and the committee wanted to cement. “It was important to me that they were invested,” Hanson said. “They do all of these conservation practices. They do this good work and thy are out in the middle of the countryside and nobody ever sees them. (People) really don’t understand what’s going on.” Some of the notes were simply that — notes. Others, however, were pages long. It shows a pride in the work these landowners do as well as continuing to be a part of the landscape and the communities around them. “‘There is a reason why I did this. Because I want
to take my g randkids hunting or because this is a family farm and this is what my dad liked to do.’ Those are real stories that people have for doing these things and I was really glad we provided an avenue for people to tell their stories. It’s been fun,” Hanson said. The landowners providing the land for hunters to walk last weekend goes beyond just a day of hunting, and Hanson is well aware of that from his work with the CRWD. It’s a lasting legacy that everybody is a part of. “We have goals and objectives we’re doing with the land with the idea that they will say ‘yes’ or they will say ‘no,’” Hanson said. “One of the reasons we’ve been successful here is we just have good people. I say that all the time, I wake up in the morning, put on my pants and that’s the last thing I do by myself.” “It takes people.”
IN FRAME
The Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener was a flurry of action as people came from throughout the state to take part.
Sandy Forstner addresses the audience during the GPHO Landowner and Hunter Host appreciation dinner. Photo provided
Lisa Havelka of Explore Minnesota and Dan Ruiter for the Department of Natural Resources pose for a picture. Photo provided
Gov. Tim Walz and his group pose for a photo after the morning hunt in Mower County as part of the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. The governor’s hunting party was led by Austin residents Taggert Medgaarden and Scott Nelson. Photo courtesy of the Department of
Mason Stepp (one of the youngest SUA volunteers) poses with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz by a pin oak tree, which was planted by members of Spruce Up Austin at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in honor of the governor. Photo provided by Chris Stepp SUA Project Chairman
Natural Resources
Hunters gather at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center after coming in from the field during the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener Saturday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
John Edman, Director of Explore Minnesota, addresses the crowd at the Friday night banquet during the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener in Austin, informing the audience that tourism provides a $15.3 billion boon to the state’s economy each year. Photo courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019
5
The dollar sign benefit GPHO makes impact on community economy By Eric Johnson newsroom@austindailyherald.com
really good habitat work that we’re doing.” A recent DNR g ame hunter survey shows that despite a slight uptick in numbers in recent years in terms of pheasant hunters, the overall rate is still down. Hunters harvested 205,395 roosters in the 2018 season, which was up from 171,883 roosters in 2017. An optimistic fall hunting forecast was cited as the primary reason more hunters were out. Even with the slight uptick, 2018 hunter numbers are still 24 percent lower than the 10-year average. Thanks to a harsh winter
The economic benefits of the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener have always been a pivotal aspect of the event. According to the DeThose taking part in the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener gather for a pre-hunt breakfast Saturday. partment of Natural ReEric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com sources, hunters spend $725 million each year in Minnesota for direct huntand heavy rains through- pheasant numbers took a began with that landowner we have our spots to go to. ing-related expenditures out the year, pheasant hit, it’s also reflective of who felt not only commit- One of the things I’ve reallike equipment, food and numbers have also taken the work done on improv- ted to his community, but ly appreciated in the roll lodging. That breaks down a hit. ing habitat. to conservation. We have that I’m in now as commisto an average of $1,412 per According to the most Mower County has been Pheasants Forever here, a sioner is the opportunity to hunter. recent bird count survey, a leader in these kinds of very active chapter that’s get out to parts of the state Travel and tourism gennumbers were down 17 per- efforts and it’s showing to involved in things and that I may not have spent a erate $15.3 billion in leicent overall from last year the rest of the state as well. the Mower County SWCD lot of time in. Really get to sure and hospitality gross according to a Pheasants “I’ve been really im- as well. I’m just very im- know the resources there. sales in Minnesota. Forever story. But even pressed,” Strommen said. pressed with the partner- Get to know the people and Money aside, the GPHO as the count reflects the “This partnership really ships that are very proac- so I think having the goverhas historically representtive and committed not nor and lt. Governor here ed habitat achievements only to the community and affords the same opporand conservation efforts. making natural resources tunity and gives it a little “This even really is an a part of their community, bit of focus to areas people opportunity to highlight, but for the larger public as might not think of.” I think, the wonderful natThis year’s GPHO is also well.” ural resources we have in Like Gov. Tim Wal z a shining example of how this state,” said DNR Comand Lt. Gov. Peggy Flana- much the event is growing missioner Sarah Stromgan, the event provides a in the state and Austin itmen. “Obviously, we have chance for Strommen to self will stand out for their our conservation chalget out into the state and work in the 2019 GPHO. lenges. Pheasant popula“ I t h i n k t h i s re a l ly see the work for herself. tions are down, small game It’s a fresh chance at shows the growth,” Stromhunters are down, but this men said. “There was a big fresh perspective. is Minnesota so we take “I think it’s a tremen- crowd at the banquet, the those challenges head on dous opportunity. I know energy was really high and and this opportunity is reit is for me to get outstate,” Austin has been a very graally like a reflection of that Gov. Tim Walz speaks during the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener banquet Friday night. she said. “I think some- cious and welcoming comand that we can highlight Jana Norman/jana.norman@austindailyherald.com times, as outdoors people, munity.”
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING AUSTIN!
6
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019
Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Working together for the land Conservation efforts on display during pheasant hunt weekend By Eric Johnson newsroom@austindailyherald.com
Conservation ef forts make the outdoor world go round. It involves farmers, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts all working together to make our outdoor habitat and wildlife something special Minnesota can boast about. A perfect example was the land dedication of the Wildlife Management Area on Friday. The Worlein family donated approximately 140 acres of drained and partially drained wetlands as well as wet meadow and shrub swamp along Murphy Creek to the Austin Area Foundation, who is in the midst of selling it to the Mower County chapter of Pheasants Forever. “The benefit of this land goes beyond wildlife habitat,” said Executive Director of the Austin Area Foundation Jef f Baldus in a press release, which came out ahead of the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener. “This new land improves water storage capacity, water quality and groundwater recharge in Mower County. We’re very grateful for the Worlein Family and their generosity to help make this happen.” The parcel is located northwest of Austin in Mower County. But while this and other
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, from left, Gov. Tim Walz, Paul Worlein, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen, Jamie Surdy of Pheasants Forever, Explore Minnesota Director John Edman and Jeff Baldus of the Austin Area Foundation pose for a picture during a land dedication ceremony Friday afternoon at Torge’s Live, part of the Governor Pheasant Hunting Opener. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
moves to preserve habitat are welcome, the Department of Natural Resources and conservationists are facing somewhat of an uphill climb despite having some of the best public land programs in the country, including the western United States. “Through programs we have a number of ways of funding and acquisition,” said Greg Hoch, DNR prairie habitat team supervisor. “And then how we maintain and manage them. One thing in Minnesota that we really hang our hat on is the Outdoor Heritage Fund from our Legacy Amendment.” Programs like the Out-
door Heritage Fund put $100 million a year into conservation that other states don’t have. B u t wh e re t h e l a n d comes from becomes a problem. Ninty five percent of land in the state of Minnesota is privately owned, leaving public land as the only land the state can really work with in conservation terms. “We won’t have enough land to support wildlife populations we would like to see,” Hoch said. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been a leading player in the conservation of farmland, but Hoch said that has been in decline since 2007.
“We lost somewhere between three-quarters of a million acres and a million acres,” Hoch said. “We were hoping for a big boost to the program and in the most recent Farm Bill.” The 1985 Farm Bill was the first to feature CRP funding, starting with around 40-45 million acres, but with the last couple Farm Bills, that acreage has been walked back to a point where CRP land is down 24 million acres. “There was a slight uptick in the current Farm Bill, but we were hoping for another big jump,” Hoch said. However, there is cur-
rently a push to try and get that number back up and it comes from precision agriculture that looks at the amount of producible acreage on farmland. “A lot of acres out there, and the exact number is debatable, but it’s a significant amount, just aren’t profitable to farm,” Hoch said. “Too wet, too dry, requires too much fertilizer on them and Pheasants Forever and a couple other groups have hired precision ag specialists.” With farm equipment these days, it’s much easier to pinpoint yields, down to the smallest levels in a field. Over a 10-year period, which hopefully in-
cludes both a wet and dry year, precision agriculture can map more precisely how much money a farm will make on that land. After that, it’s a matter of figuring out what can be done with that land that’s not profitable. “Let’s figure out a conservation program to get these acres in,” Hoch said. It tur ns out to possibly be a win-win for both conservation efforts and farmers. “They’ve crunched the numbers and they’ve done the science and they’ve shown if you’re a farmer or producer, your profit for that field can rise dramatically,” Hoch said. “They potentially could be a revolution here in the next few years.” T his ef for t could be bolstered by the success generated by precision farming, along with other efforts like understanding the relationship between cover cropping and wildlife. “If we can figure out how to make your farm both profitable agriculturally and also beneficial to wildlife and water issues, they you’re going to win, everybody who lives down stream of you is going to win and everybody who lives in the general area who likes to watch or hunt wildlife is going to win,” Hoch said.
STAY SAFE THIS HUNTING SEASON.
Mayo Clinic Health System is proud to sponsor the 2019 Governor’s Pheasant Opener. For a safe and enjoyable season, remember these tips: • Be diligent with safety precautions and hearing protection • Wear clothing suitable for hunting and the weather • Stay level-headed • Always alert other hunters to your presence. Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin For more safe hunting tips, visit mayoclinchealthsystem.org