John Deere and Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever join efforts to improve wildlife habitat in the U.S.

OLATHE, KANSAS  – John Deere and Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever announced a new joint effort today to help improve wildlife habitat acres across the country and provide discounts on select models of new John Deere equipment to Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever members.

"John Deere is interested in promoting wildlife habitat and finding innovative ways to help farmers, ranchers and landowners turn marginal, unproductive acres into more profitable wildlife habitat," Travis Becton, director of sales for John Deere said. This program provides landowners, who are outdoor enthusiasts and members of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever, an opportunity to reclaim what were once unprofitable acres and to save on their purchase of new John Deere equipment.

Pheasants Forever, Inc., is an organization dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs. More than 17 million acres of wildlife habitat have been improved by the group in the past 36 years. The Habitat Organization’s expertise in wildlife habitat improvement is one reason why John Deere joined efforts with them.

"We are thrilled to add John Deere as a partner in our conservation mission," added Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever President and CEO. "Our habitat goals happen with farmers in the driver's seat of a John Deere planting the best acres to row crops and the environmentally sensitive acres to wildlife habitat."

"There are many positives that can come from John Deere and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever working together. We have a large portfolio of equipment and technology that can be used to improve wildlife habitats, keep waterways clean and protect soils while reclaiming what were previously less productive acres," Becton said.

One example he cited is the use of John Deere Precision Ag technology to help customers more quickly identify less productive areas of a field or parcel of land, so they can target them with conservation practices that will ultimately result in increased wildlife habitat and potentially increase profits.

Customers can have their yield maps and data analyzed by agronomists or wildlife biologists who can provide recommendations for improvement. In fields with areas affected by poor drainage or saline soils that are unable to produce a crop for example, customers can plant the area back to grass, alfalfa or possibly enroll the acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

As part of the three-year agreement, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever will recognize John Deere as the "Official Habitat Tractor". In addition, John Deere will sponsor a Conservation Farmer of the Year Award for local chapter banquets nationwide to recognize and promote conservation practices. During the 2019 National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic, John Deere will be the presenting sponsor for a Precision Ag Workshop for farmers, precision specialists, agronomists and ag lenders. The workshop will provide information on how to maximize return-on-investment for every acre on the farm while improving wildlife habitat.

The John Deere rewards program will provide Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever members with discounts on select models of new John Deere equipment including compact utility tractors, riding mowers, rotary cutters and other products offered through John Deere Rewards and purchased at authorized and participating John Deere dealers or visit Deere.com/Pheasants for complete details.

John Deere has similar member-benefit programs with other organizations including the American Quarter Horse Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.