2022 Private Lands Conservation Champion

Lars Ely, Sunflower, Mississippi

Lars Ely manages Ely Properties, a 1400-acre family farm that has maintained and created bird habitat for decades. The Ely farm is located in Sunflower, Mississippi, just east of the town of Shaw. This property was once a cattle operation that was converted into a row crop farm and remained this way for many years. While in row crop production this farm was a 100% no-till operation. Lars is unlike most of the other producers in the area as he was unwilling to clear wooded areas on his farm because he did not want to lose the habitat they provide.

The Ely family seeks ways to increase wildlife habitat on the property, often looking to NRCS for assistance. On this farm Lars has worked through the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) to develop waterfowl habitat by installing levees and water control structures. He was also able to use the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to establish native warm season grasses to promote upland habitat. One of the biggest contributions to habitat occurred when 400 acres of farmland was enrolled into the Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) Program. This restoration and protection of crucial wetland habitat in the Mississippi Delta demonstrates the Ely family’s commitment and investment in promoting wildlife habitat and landscape health in the Lower Mississippi Valley.