Partnership Hires Additional Private Land Help

Photos

Landowner Spraying Fescue

Missouri landowners who want more wildlife eradicate fescue to improve rabbit, quail and songbird habitat.

Published on: Feb. 20, 2012

We are excited to announce that three new Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists have been hired in Missouri. These new biologists will work with area landowners and farmers to implement wildlife habitat conservation measures aimed at increasing quail and other wildlife populations. Through a partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (QF), we aim to help restore quail numbers in Missouri.

Ryan Diener will be located in the Franklin County USDA Field Office in Union. Ryan is a native of Missouri. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri. Since that time—among other things—Ryan has been working as a Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist for Pheasants Forever in Oberlin, Kansas. He is an avid hunter and outdoorsman and is involved with several professional and conservation organizations. Ryan will start in early April. He can be contacted at (636) 299-1140 or RDiener@quailforever.org.

Scott James will be located in the Scott County USDA Field Office in Benton. Scott is a native of Illinois. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University. Since that time, Scott has been a waterfowl research technician on two projects in North Dakota and most recently in the bootheel of Missouri. Scott recently completed his contract with the Army National Guard and has served some time overseas. He has been interested in wildlife conservation work since childhood. Scott will start work on February 27th. Once he starts, he will be able to be reached at (573) 545-3593 or at sjames@quailforever.org.

Andrew White will be located in the Livingston County Field Office in Chillicothe. Andrew is a native of Missouri. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Lincoln University in Jefferson City. Most recently he has been working for the Missouri Department of Conservation in the Private Land Services Division as well as the Protection Division. Andrew is quite involved both professionally and as a volunteer; he currently volunteers for the Four Rivers Quail Forever Chapter. Andrew will start February 21st and at that time, will be able to be reached at (660) 646-6220 or at AWhite@quailforever.org.

The Farm Bill Biologists are employees of, and supervised by PF, with daily instruction and leadership provided by NRCS and MDC. Funding is provided by NRCS, MDC, and local QF Chapters. These staff jumped into their new jobs while at the National Pheasantfest held this weekend in Kansas City. They helped provide assistance to over 280 landowners who stopped by the Habitat Help Desk over the weekend.

Comments

On February 29th, 2012 at 10:39pm whitew said:

Jerry, thanks for your comments. We are excited about the possibilities that more boots on the ground will do for the world of quail habitat. If you would send your email address to bill.white@mdc.mo.gov, I will send you my diagrams. I do not have access to your email address through the blog. thanks again Jerry and best of luck!

On February 29th, 2012 at 7:59pm Jerry Tracy said:

This can only be a plus for quail restoration efforts in Missouri. I applaud the agencies involved for recognizing the need and stepping up and hiring professionals. On another note, I enjoyeed your seminar at PF Mr. White. The amount of response that you had from the quail was phenominal. I was wondering, is there anyway that you could email me your diagrams and descriptions that you used during your presentation? I'd like to use them as a guide for my 70 acres down here in Greene county.

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