The fish and wildlife resources of Missouri are a large part of the culture and values of its citizens. Requests to NRCS offices to assist in these matters occasionally overextend NRCS' available time and technical expertise.

The Missouri Department of Conservation, nationally recognized for being innovative, was totally aware that most of the state's wildlife resources exist on private lands. Building on an existing foundation, the two agencies lead the nation in addressing fish and wildlife issues on private lands.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Missouri Department of Conservation

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has 32 private land conservationists (biologists) co-located and assisting NRCS field office staffs statewide. Missouri NRCS also has an MDC biologist in each of its five area offices, plus five wetland biologists who focus primarily on WRP activities.

In addition, there is one MDC employee in a joint venture between MDC and Pheasants Forever in Knox County, 10 soil conservationists with salary costs split between NRCS and MDC, and one biologist who monitors WRP wetland sites.

The MDC partners assist NRCS with the application of almost all current farm bill programs, including WRP, EQIP, CSP and WHIP.

A targeted effort to increase quail production is being made through the Missouri Department of Conservation's proposal titled "Northwest Missouri Bobwhite Buffers Enhancement," which is one of six projects selected by NRCS nationwide to receive grant funding through the Conservation Partnership Initiative.

The project will focus efforts on agricultural producers in northwestern Missouri who have lands eligible for EQIP, WHIP, Bobwhite Buffers and other CCRP buffer practices that are beneficial to bobwhite quail. When target areas are saturated, the project will move focus to adjoining counties and repeat the planning and implementation procedures. The project will conclude in June 2007.