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Eric Sytsma Farm Bill Biologist Mahaska/Poweshiek County Phone: 641-629-1894 Email: esytsma@pheasantsforever.org
Plan Now for Wildlife Management in 2012 – Eric Sytsma, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist
As the crops start coming out of the fields and hunting seasons open up for the fall, it’s the perfect time to start planning wildlife management practices for the upcoming year. Much of what needs to be done can be accomplished in late fall or early spring, and preparing for these projects should begin as soon as possible.
Native prairie can be planted from late November through snowfall. These dormant seedings do a great job of encouraging wildflower germination the following spring, and can be some of the most successful native vegetation projects done all year. Landowners with land recently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) can begin planting November 15.
Landowners with mid-contract management activities coming due on CRP acres can do them in late fall or early spring. Stands of native vegetation respond best to fire, while fields of cool season grass such as brome should be disked or sprayed and then inter-seeded with legumes to increase the wildlife food and cover value of the area. Interseeding with legumes such as clover attracts thousands of insects. Insects are an essential majority of a young bird’s diet, supplying the high levels of protein needed for feather development.
Landowners with streams and rivers running through their property should consider signing up for filter strips along the water courses. These strips of grasses and forbs protect the water by filtering sediment and chemicals out of surface runoff from crop fields. Filter strips also reduce erosion of stream banks, provide excellent wildlife habitat, create straight field edges, and provide good rental rates through CRP on ground that often produces marginal crop yields.
With the new mourning dove season in Iowa, landowners might consider planting food plots for doves. These include sunflowers, winter wheat, millet, and other small grains that are mowed just before the season opens. Many of these plots need planted in the fall or early spring so planning now is essential to managing successful dove food plots.
There are also program application cutoffs for the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) coming up this winter.
For more information on these programs, please contact Eric Sytsma at 641-673-3476 or at esytsma@pheasantsforever.org. |
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Copyright © 2011 Mahaska County Pheasants Forever |
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MAHASKA COUNTY PHEASANTS FOREVER |
