Recent Project Brings Harmony to Agriculture and Conservation
<p>Pesticides and herbicides are protecting crops but harming our ecosystem. Grassland species like the threatened bobwhite quail face sharp population declines because of agricultural changes depleting their main food source.</p>
<p>Part of the problem? Many farmers don’t know about ways to conserve the landscape surrounding them. The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) seeks to bridge this gap, providing resources and demonstrations to help farmers balance conservation and agricultural success. Thanks to a grant from the <a href="/content/southern-company/homepage/misc/stewardship.html" target="_self">Power of Flight program</a>, AWF shows farmers they don’t have to choose between a healthy farm and a healthy ecosystem—they can have both.</p>
<p>Bogue Chitto Creek Falls, a privately-owned farm, is one of many successful landowner demonstration sites. This site boasts conservation practices like filter strips and field boarders. Located on the outside edges of cropland, these natural systems filter runoff and waste water. These grassy areas provide habitat for bobwhite quail and other grassland species that, in turn, protect crops by hunting insects.</p>
<p>Southern Company and Alabama Power employees weren’t the only ones impressed during a recent visit –Bogue Chitto’s landowner is so pleased by the project he doubled the warm season grass habitat restoration acreage on his property. That brings AWF one step closer to reaching its goal of restoring 20,000 acres of warm season grasses. Southern Company and Alabama Power are proud to support AWF as the organization works to better the future of bobwhite quail and other grassland species.<br>
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