Bushong Farms is a fifth generation, 2000-acre farm in Hand County, South Dakota, owned and operated by a family whose ancestors homesteaded in the late 1800s. After five generations as a diverse livestock and cropping operation, Bushong Farms is now managed to maximize not only crop, but also wildlife, production. "We strongly believe that not only can conservation and wildlife management co-exist with production agriculture, they can actually add value to our farming operation," said Todd Bushong, owner and operator of Bushong Farms. "By adding value to our operation through conservation, we also add value to our community by bringing rural economic development from hunting and ag-tourism," stated Bushong.

Todd has enrolled several parcels of land into CRP, implementing practices that complement both his farming and hunting operations. Practices include Field Windbreaks, Farmable Wetlands, and Marginal Pastureland Wetland Buffer. In addition, Todd has over 300 acres of CRP devoted to introduced and native grasses, legumes, and forbs.

"All of the CRP conservation practices we installed have created and enhanced wildlife habitat," noted Todd. The habitat is particularly suitable for wild game birds such as pheasants, grouse, and ducks. White tail deer also benefit from the enhanced habitation.

In addition to wildlife habitat, Todd has noticed decreased salinity and increased yields in cropland adjacent to the wetland buffers. "There are big water quality benefits from no longer cropping and applying fertilizer and pesticides adjacent to the wetlands," he said. "The creek banks that eroded from cattle paths have healed, and plant diversity has returned."

Todd Bushong and Bushong Farms are committed to conservation and the future of rural America. "We as a society must continue to give agriculture this tool of conservation to use against the population and economic decline of our rural areas," said Todd. "Conservation is not only an environmental buffer along a stream, but a buffer against the rural economic decay caused by the advancement in agricultural technology."

CRP Farmable Wetland Pilot buffer separates tilled cropland from Farmable Wetland Pilot wetland.

Field Windbreak installed on CRP contract acreage reduces wind erosion.

Todd Bushong shows off CRP Field Windbreak. Says Bushong, 'We strongly believe that not only can conservation and wildlife management coexist with production agriculture, it can actually add value to our farming operation.'

CRP Farmable Wetland Pilot established on Bushong Farms. "There are big water quality benefits from no longer cropping and applying fertilizer and pesticides adjacent to the wetlands," said owner/operator Todd Bushong.

Fifth generation farmer Todd Bushong is managing his diversified operation to maximize not only crop production but also wildlife habitat.