Pheasants Forever Conservation
To some, conservation is a word. To Pheasants Forever, it's a way of life - anything short of a holistic approach to conservation would be unacceptable. That's why Pheasants Forever provides the most efficient conservation model of any organization. PF's unique model empowers local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally-raised conservation funds will be spent. Whether it's through improving habitat, informing the public about land management or educating future generations of hunting enthusiasts, conservation is the underlying principle in all we do at the grassroots level of our chapters all the way to Washington DC when we fight for strong conservation policy.
Pheasants Forever is honored to carry along America's rich tradition of conservation. Deeply engrained in Pheasants Forever's conservation approach are the teachings, philosophies and lessons of Aldo Leopold, one of the country's most renowned and well-respected conservationists. Pheasants Forever holds Leopold's work in such high regard that the organization's education arm is the Leopold Education Project (LEP), a curriculum based on Leopold's writings. Pheasants Forever's mission is tied to the theory that "knowledge is power," taking the works and writings of Leopold and applying them to the fields and forests of today. Leopold wrote of building a connection with the land, and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters make that connection today through all the work they do at the grassroots level.
Although we're extremely proud of the work we at Pheasants Forever have accomplished in our first 24 years, we realize that when your work is conservation, the work is never-ending. We invite you to join Pheasants Forever in our quest to ensure a country rich in natural resources and long on people willing to work to preserve them. After all, natural resources - pheasants, quail and other wildlife and the land, air and water on which they live - are our greatest resources.
Vote Yes Minnesota!
This November, every Minnesotan that votes is going to have a chance to make their voice heard. The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment will be on the ballot, asking if citizens want to invest in clean water, open areas, arts and parks and trails. Remember, if you leave this question blank, the state considers it a no vote. Make sure that you make your own choice!
Do you want to protect the Minnesota you love? Are you registered to vote? If you are not sure, or don't know what to do, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's website to register and find out where you vote.
Download Pheasants Forever's Public Service Announcements here. Bring these PSAs to your local radio station and ask them to support VOTE YES in Minnesota.
- Vote Yes PSA :15 (Audio .mp3 389 KB)
- Vote Yes PSA :30 1 (Audio .mp3 697 KB)
- Vote Yes PSA :30 2 (Audio .mp3 727 KB)
- Vote Yes PSA :60 (Audio .mp3 1.3 MB)
Grasslands for Pheasants
In the current issue of Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine, Tom Conroy writes about the hard work that Pheasants Forever, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and others have put in over the years to make sure pheasants have access to the healthy grassland habitat they need to thrive. Read all about it at the Minnesota DNR website.
Growing Conservation in the Farm Bill
If you ask most folks to list the country's important laws for fish and wildlife, they probably would not mention the Farm Bill. Similarly, they might not immediately think of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), whcih administers Farm Bill programs, as a powerhouse of conservation.
The past three Farm Bills, however, have shaped more conservation programs for a longer period of time - and put more funding behind those programs - than any other suite of legislation. The more than $5 billion the USDA spends on conservation each year is two-and-a-half times larger than the entire U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service budget. And the USDA is proving everyday that it can balance the goals of maintaining a stable food and fiber supply while sustaining fish and wildlife populations...
This Farm Bill Booklet will give you some background on what the Farm Bill has done for conservation and the different programs included in the Farm Bill.
National Conservation Leadership with Local Habitat Results
This 10 minute video gives a sneak peak to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's work in Washington D.C.. It also explains how those efforts create the tools local chapters need to create wildlife habitat in their own communities.
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| High 24.5 MB |
Medium 11.1 MB |
Low 3.1 MB |
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| *WARNING: this is a 10 minute video and may take some time to download. Copies of this DVD are available in a limited supply. Please send a request for a DVD copy to stpete@pheasantsforever.org |
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Aug-21-2008 - Gregg and Wayne Karnis, owners of Pronto Pups, have pledged a portion of their Minnesota State Fair concession sales to Minnesota's 2008 Build a Wildlife Area campaign. As a result of every Pronto Pup sold at last year's Fair, the Karnis brothers contributed $5,000 to the 2007 campaign. That donation helped to purchase the new Roger M. Holmes Wildlife Management Area in Douglas County. ...more
Pheasants Forever Weighs in on Implementation of New Farm BillJul-30-2008 - Last week, Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) biologists met with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and political leaders in Washington, DC. The meetings focused on conservation opportunities in the new Farm Bill. For PF/QF, the meetings marked an important transition from the Farm Bill legislative process to implementation. "It's important to remember the signing of a new Farm Bill into law is only the first step in the conservation process," explained Dave Nomsen, PF/QF's Vice President of Governmental Affairs. "Rules, regulations, appropriations, and promotion of conservation programs are all critical to the magic of turning law into habitat on the land." ...more
CRP Survives Early Outs Talk, but Soil Bank Tragedy LoomsJul-29-2008 - Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) support the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision not to offer "early outs" to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts without penalty. Today's USDA announcement comes after months of speculation about early outs, which would have led to a multi-million acre loss of environmentally sensitive lands currently providing wildlife habitat, protecting water quality, and safeguarding soil resources. However, PF/QF warns of further trouble ahead for CRP, which has already seen 3 million acres leave the program with an additional 13 million more acres in line for expiration in the next three years. ...more
USDA Secretary Schafer's Statement on CRPJul-29-2008 - "We have just completed a very thorough review of whether we should allow the early release of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) without penalty to land owners. After carefully considering recent crop reports and weather conditions, the price trends we are seeing in grain markets and the likelihood of increasing land for crop production, we have decided not to allow the penalty-free release of CRP land at this time. ...more
Multi-State PF & QF Habitat Meeting Slated for August 9thJul-28-2008 - Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) announce the 2008 multi-state meeting for the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and New Jersey will be held on August 9th at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) in Erie, Pennsylvania. This event will focus on fostering partnerships between PF/QF chapters and complimentary organizations, as well as plans for future conservation efforts. All PF & QF members & partners are invited to attend. ...more
