New Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist in Des Moines, Lee, and Van Buren Counties
Pheasants Forever 05.22.14
Erica Yost was recently hired by Pheasants Forever (PF) as the organization’s newest farm bill biologist in Iowa. A partnership position, Yost is located in the Donnellson USDA service center field office and covers Des Moines, Lee, and Van Buren counties.
“Farm bill biologists like Erica play a critical role in connecting farmers and other landowners with the available technical and financial assistance to implement voluntary programs and best management practices for wildlife and the protection of soil and water resources. These important positions would not be possible without the support of our many local, state, and federal partners,” said Ryan Heiniger, Pheasants Forever’s north region manager.
Yost is a native of Logan, Iowa and holds a B.S. in Conservation Biology from Wayne State College. While she enjoys hunting “almost anything,” memories made sitting in the tree stand hunting for deer are her most treasured. When not in the tree stand, Yost also enjoys fishing, hunting for morels, and hiking with her husband, Jeremy.
Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Yost worked in the Wapello Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field office in Louisa County as an AmeriCorps habitat specialist. Prior to completing her degree, Yost worked for various county conservation boards and volunteered for the Logan Creek Pheasants Forever and Aldo Leopold Pheasants Forever chapters as a committee member.
According to Yost, “I look forward to working with landowners in Des Moines, Lee, and Van Buren counties to help them plan and reach their wildlife and conservation goals.”
“We’re very excited to have Erica on our team,” said TJ Mathis, NRCS district conservationist. “Wildlife and habitat have tremendous recreational and economic value in our area. Having Erica in the office to help landowners with their wildlife and habitat goals will really complete the full-service conservation assistance landowners expect from our offices.”
Pheasants Forever’s 11 farm bill biologists in Iowa are a collaborative partnership among PF chapters, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and USDA Farm Services Agency, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and other partners. The biologists provide farm bill program advice for eligibility, application deadlines and other important details for landowners interested in improving wildlife habitat on their property.
To find a biologist in your area, please visit Pheasants Forever’s staff contact page.
Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.
