Makintrax73
Member
Farm is high quality corn/bean ground in Western IL, just south of I-80.
Thinking about talking to my farmer about setting aside 5 to 10 acres of small grains on my family's farm next spring. I currently have about 2 coveys of quail using some CRP on the property. I think I could add maybe some nesting, broading cover with the right small grains, and I know in KS we see a lot of quail in and around picked sorghum fields.
However this becomes a question of 1) equipment, 2) timing, and 3) finding a crop that is right for the area
I have zero equipment. I would be relying on being able to talk my farmer into planing something different than normal. He is not going to be purchasing new equipment. The timing would have to fit in with his normal planting harvesting schedule. It would have to be picked after nesting season is done. I would be willing to substantially reduce or eliminate the cash rent on a few acres if it will help the birds and provide some additional hunting habitat. But it has to be viable and reasonably easy for my farmer. If it has a side benefit of producing some fodder he could sell to someone with some cows or pigs that might really help things along.
In my initial research it appears that spring oats might be a possibility. But not being a habitat expert I don't know whether this might help the quail, nor do I know if the farmer would be able to plant and harvest a small patch of spring oats without messing up his normal procedures.
Sorry to puke out a bunch of random thoughts. If any of you guys have any thoughts on an easy way to throw in some patches of small grains in the corn belt that would help the habitat along I'm all ears.
Thinking about talking to my farmer about setting aside 5 to 10 acres of small grains on my family's farm next spring. I currently have about 2 coveys of quail using some CRP on the property. I think I could add maybe some nesting, broading cover with the right small grains, and I know in KS we see a lot of quail in and around picked sorghum fields.
However this becomes a question of 1) equipment, 2) timing, and 3) finding a crop that is right for the area
I have zero equipment. I would be relying on being able to talk my farmer into planing something different than normal. He is not going to be purchasing new equipment. The timing would have to fit in with his normal planting harvesting schedule. It would have to be picked after nesting season is done. I would be willing to substantially reduce or eliminate the cash rent on a few acres if it will help the birds and provide some additional hunting habitat. But it has to be viable and reasonably easy for my farmer. If it has a side benefit of producing some fodder he could sell to someone with some cows or pigs that might really help things along.
In my initial research it appears that spring oats might be a possibility. But not being a habitat expert I don't know whether this might help the quail, nor do I know if the farmer would be able to plant and harvest a small patch of spring oats without messing up his normal procedures.
Sorry to puke out a bunch of random thoughts. If any of you guys have any thoughts on an easy way to throw in some patches of small grains in the corn belt that would help the habitat along I'm all ears.