Quail Forever announces the hiring of Joshua Michna as the new precision agriculture and conservation specialist to support growers in the Texas High Plains region. This new role is made possible through the collaboration of Quail Forever, Cotton Incorporated, BASF Agricultural Solutions and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program to increase farm profitability and deliver tangible environmental benefits.
Michna’s new role will help landowners make better use of cutting-edge technology and voluntary wildlife conservation practices to identify acres of farmland opportunities. You will work with farmers to develop a precision agriculture business plan suitable for their operation. By focusing on return on investment at a subfield scale, Michna will help define areas to explore alternative farming practices, voluntary conservation programs, cost sharing and other funding opportunities to increase the profits and success of a grower’s operation. . The ultimate goal of this position is to deliver habitat-based solutions, including soil health, water quality, carbon sequestration, and rural economic development while maintaining high farm incomes.
“The Habitat Organization is excited and proud to collaborate with the great programs and people of Cotton Incorporated, United Sorghum Checkoff Program and BASF Agricultural Solutions in this effort to promote agricultural profitability along with conservation initiatives”, Director of Sustainability Partnerships for Quail Forever Brent Rodolfo said. “Texas Panhandle cotton and sorghum farmers are committed to supporting a healthy environment and bright economic future for their families and communities, and quail, pheasants and other wildlife will benefit from our efforts to work together here.”
The addition of a Texas-based precision specialist adds further momentum to Quail Forever’s collaborative farming initiatives to deliver sustainability results. Starting in 2019, the Cotton Sustainability & Quail Recovery Project in cooperation with Cotton Incorporated laid the foundation for innovation in the commodity sector. Since then, the Sorghum for Birds initiative with the United Sorghum Checkoff Program and the recent national sponsorship announcement with BASF Agricultural Solutions have positively transformed Quail Forever’s relationships with growers into focal regions for upland birds.
“This program is a great opportunity for sorghum and cotton growers in Texas. The collaboration is intended to help farmers apply production data and precision farming technologies to identify less profitable acres and create biodiverse habitats,” said Jesse Daystar, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Cotton Incorporated. “Project results will benefit the environment and native bird species surrounding cotton farmland, while helping growers increase profitability.”
“This expanded multi-commodity conservation collaboration, built on a strong foundation of ongoing coordination between our industry organizations and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, will further enhance sorghum’s recognition as The Resource Conserving Crop™️ through the targeted conservation delivery in sorghum and cotton rotation systems. in West Texas,” said Adam York, Director of Sustainability for the United Sorghum Checkoff Program. “We look forward to increasing the sustainability of both industries through shared impacts on the farm of our new precision agriculture conservation specialist in Lubbock.”
“We are excited to collaborate with Quail Forever, Cotton Incorporated and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program to advance the cause of conservation and agricultural sustainability in West Texas,” said Ray Daniels, Sustainability Manager for BASF’s North American Seeds. “This program provides the opportunity for growers to identify alternatives for lower yielding acres that are environmentally sustainable and economically viable. With access to resources provided by the precision agriculture and conservation specialist, growers will have more options to consider when planning how to maximize land use in 2023 and beyond.”
Growing up in the outdoor traditions of hunting and fishing in South Texas, Joshua Michna has a proud farming and ranching background with experience in all aspects of farming, including cotton and sorghum processing, as well as the maintenance of agricultural equipment. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in fish and wildlife management from Texas Tech University, he has worked in precision agriculture as a field technician for South Plains Precision Ag since 2019. Michna previously worked as an agricultural technician for Heinrich Brothers Farms and Brushy Branch Ranch. since 2009, where he gained first-hand experience with irrigation systems, combined harvesting and brushcutting, equipment management, and other ranch duties.
Michna will work closely with agricultural retailers such as implement dealers, software companies, grain cooperatives, certified crop advisors, agricultural lenders and others to support sustainability practices throughout the Panhandle. For more information on precision agriculture and conservation solutions in Texas, contact Joshua Michna at [email protected] or (806) 696-9422.
About Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 400,000 members, supporters, and partners is dedicated to protecting our highlands through habitat improvement, public access, education, and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determines how 100 percent of its locally raised funds are spent – the only national conservation organization to operate through this grassroots structure. Since its inception in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 567,500 habitat projects benefiting 22 million acres.
About the United Sorghum Checkoff Program
The United Sorghum Checkof Program is a grower-funded organization dedicated to improving the sorghum industry through research, advocacy, and education. For more information on the USCP and other sorghum promotion projects, visit www.sorghumcheckoff.com.
About Cotton Incorporated
Cotton Incorporated is the research and promotion company for Upland cotton. Funded by American cotton growers and importers of Upland cotton-containing products, the nonprofit organization’s mission is to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton. As a resource for the cotton industry, Cotton Incorporated conducts or oversees more than 450 educational and research projects in an average year. Research areas range from the development of agricultural and textile innovations to the analysis of commodity and market data. For more information, visit www.CottonInc.com.
About BASF Agricultural Solutions
Agriculture is critical to providing enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. By working with partners and agricultural experts and integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers create a positive impact in sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong line of research and development, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises specifically selected seeds and plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management solutions, plant health, pest control and digital agriculture. With teams of experts in the lab, field, ice, and production, we strive to strike the right balance for success – for farmers, agriculture, and future generations. In 2021, our division generated sales of €8.2 billion. For more information, visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.