For nearly 30 years, Littlefield rancher James Blackwell has worked to conserve the natural resources on his land and create a haven for local wildlife.

Blackwell, a Texas Farm Bureau member and third generation landowner, has set aside hundreds of acres in both Lamb and Hockley counties as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

According to the USDA, Blackwell has established areas with grasses in which the Lesser Prairie-Chicken can thrive.

He’s also established cover and transitioned introduced grass to local grasses that have helped increase the Lesser Prairie-Chicken habitat.

Through the years, he’s also added a wildlife food plot, dirt tanks and water guzzlers while encouraging his neighbors to consider conservation measures as well.

The efforts have paid off as Blackwell is seeing improved land and an increase in Lesser Prairie-Chicken presence and ducks.

Additional information about Blackwell’s involvement in CRP and his conservation efforts can be found here: http://bit.ly/1MzGFyk.