Ideas to get more habitat

captaincoot said:
FC dicthes are good habitat and I wish they would quit mowing them also every little bit helps. They fill with snow first, but until they do people without there own private place to hunt got somewhere decent to go. I remember alot of good ditch hunts.
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You have just opened the door for Landman.
 
moellermd said:
You have just opened the door for Landman.
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Yes, I guess he did open the door. I can provide some insite to the ditch situation.

Many years ago when the roads were first put in the ditches were made deep and narrow. I suppose it was because of the equipment they had then - the same equipment they used to drain wetlands and straighten streams in the early 1900's Since then it was learned that snow removal during the winter months is less expensive if the ditches are backsloped, mowed and free of debris and trees. If the ditches are backsloped and mowed the snow does not pile up on the road as much and so less tax dollars are needed to keep them open. Many township roads are not plowed in the winter anymore so if they are to be opened then the farmer must do it at his own expense if he wants to get hay, check cattle, or road hunt deer. Additionally if the ditches are backsloped then it can be mowed for hay. I've said this many times, the ditch is owned by the landowner not the state, county or township. A trip to the County Register of Deeds will confirm this if you have any doubts. The public entities own an easement, which is different. Therefore, if the landowner wishes to cut the ditch for hay, that is his right to do so. I suspect that the trend to backslope and mow more and more ditches will continue into the future. The farmer wants to do it, the county wants it done and the township wants it done too. For that reason expect more ditches to look neat and clean in the future. I'm not saying that I'm necessarily in favor of all these developments, just stating the facts about what is happening.

The only ditches owned by the Public are Interstate ditches, yet they are always kept mowed.

The ditches still have to be sprayed for thistles even if they are mowed every year.

As for CRP, I expect the USDA to do a General sign-up late this summer. The farm bill authorized 32 million acres down from 39 million in the last farm bill. The current enrollment is now about 32 million acres with a good amount expiring on Oct 1st of this year, which will be replaced with a General sign-up this summer for new contracts starting on Oct 1st.
 
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I can agree with lots of stuff on these forums.
However to take thousands of years to make top soil is simply not true.

Proof is everywhere.
This country[NC MN] totally farmed out by the 60's. All small farms and dairy gone, why? partly because the soil was exhausted.

Along comes irrigation. Modern farming, 200 bushel corn with all but the grain left on the field then goes as quickly as possible back to the ground.

Guess? corn is raised 1 out of three years only. The soil is still shallow but for sure some of the best producing farm land in the world. REALLY!!

Hey! I'm not saying conducive to wildlife.
 
The best way to increase habitat - bar none - is to purchase land and make it happen yourself. It will build character and keep you from buying a new truck - but you will have pheasants and lots of friends in the fall.
 
Landman, I feel the need to make an important distinction. Yes, for an individual, buying land is the best way to increase habitat. Conversly, for the pheasant or quail species that is not the best option. For our wildlife species, getting landowners to glean the benefits of existing federal programs (or improved ones in the future) to improve their bottom lines while increasing habitat at the same time is our best hope.

mnm, with modern fertilizer and added water, almost any soil can be used as a media to grow crops on with annual innoculations of fertility. But, to replace the soil that has been lost since the first plow sliced away the sod, it will take eons.
 
Now thats an idea I like Landman To bad not all hunters can afford to buy ground. Its fun to do you learn more about wildlife, and you don't have to worry about that aztex indain thing. I've been researching that and one lesson I learned so far is people shouldn't go around eating or sacraficing one another.
 
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captaincoot said:
Now thats an idea I like. Its fun to do you learn more about wildlife, and you don't have to worry about that aztex indain thing. I've been researching that and one lesson I learned so far is people shouldn't go around eating or sacraficing one another.
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This is why children it is important to just say no.
 
Talking about the roadsides for wildlife again, They are all backsloped, yes. But I never see a differance in the ones that have un mowed grass vs the ones that are mowed, as far as snow building up in them. Weather mowed or not they all fill in with snow right away, no differance at all when that happens. Right now you could not tell the difference between the two.At least around here. They mow the edge, but the cover in the bottoms are lower then the road surface, they all get burried the same. Nobody is trying to open a door for arguement just a suggestion.:thumbsup: And they could mow them once late in the year as to leave the cover for the most important time the birds bennifit from it. Spring, summer, and early fall. Just a thought. I agree the land owner has the option to cut the nesting cover down if they choose.
 
I wouldn't be too optimistic about turning habitat into fuel. That leaves nothing part of the year. I wish that they would take all of the feral cedars, elms, locust, and Russian Olive trees out of our grass here in Kansas, Oklahoma, and beyond before they ever harvested a blade of grass for ethanol production. Cellulose is cellulose. Might as well direct that fuel hunger toward noxious trees and weeds before pursuing habitat plants.
 
pheasantaddict said:
If we can convert bio mass like switch to fuel, that should create alot of habitat.
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I am not so sure that is what we want either. Sure it might mean more switch grass, but from my understanding that cut it twice each year. Once in the early summer (nesting time) and then before it goes dormant (no winter cover.) The main thing we need in my area is winter cover and that would not be provided with biomass ethanol.
 
I think all these are the right idea. No one thing is the solution.

Educating landowners to use prgrams to make the farm work/pay with balance of conservation is by far most productive use of time and money (resources).

As for Biomass....it may become an "option" but is far from proven to provide habitat. I see it being managed like cows and controlled grazing. A tool but not full year round habitat........until proven it remains speculation.

I bought 100 pounds of sweet clover and alfalfa and it is going in my road ditches this spring.

Good thread!:10sign:
 
No doubt switch is a great grass, but for fuel, does anyone even know when it gets harvested, if it is early, it would really do nothing for the most part of the year. but if harvested in the fall it could do allot of good, even allow farmers to put it in right of ways, and harvest it there. it is perennial so the ditch would not be all plowed up, and it would be better then broam for cover from rapters. Great Idea Chris, you will benefit from that practice. Sweet clover is all we have left to train in now, the rest of the grasses have no cover left from the snow, but that stuff is still good.
 
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Most of you have probably seen CRP that has been cut for hay? Farmers are allowed to cut CRP during drought conditions. Anyway that is what Switch Grass harvested would look like. Exactly. No Winter value to pheasants.

Switch grass is warm season, won't get growing until June, to late for nesting pheasants.

And anybody who has cut hay will tell you, Cut it at the optimum time to get the most of the crop. That would be just after heading. Loss of leaves is rapid after the seed. Once the plant seeds it has done it's job, no need for more growth or its leaves.

So that is when it will be taken at the time of the most tons per acre. For Switch grass in SD around the last week in august.

Switch Grass for ethanol will be of no value for Wintering and nesting pheasants. Good for growing broods though.

Switch grass left uncut with it's sturdy stem holds up good to heavy snow. Wish all CRP had Switch Grass.
 
UGUIDE said:
I think all these are the right idea. No one thing is the solution.

Educating landowners to use prgrams to make the farm work/pay with balance of conservation is by far most productive use of time and money (resources).

As for Biomass....it may become an "option" but is far from proven to provide habitat. I see it being managed like cows and controlled grazing. A tool but not full year round habitat........until proven it remains speculation.

I bought 100 pounds of sweet clover and alfalfa and it is going in my road ditches this spring.

Good thread!:10sign:
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Yes a good thread:cool: I'm glad I can be a part of a bunch of people who care year around about Pheasants and other wild life.:)


Chris, In those huge fields of CRP in Eastern MT and Western ND they include Sweetclover and Alfalfa. Both plants hold up well in the Winter. Uncut Alfalfa by Fall will turn into quite the sturdy bush with tons of seed that stays on the plant above a couple feet of snow. I'm sure makes some nutriches bird feed.
 
in iowa vote yes on the new tax proposal in november. IF iowa were ever to raise sales tax 1/8 of 1 % would have to go to nateral recources. would raise approximetly 150 million per year. missouri has had this for years. this would really help fund wildlife programs. remember i said IF they raise taxs. i hate paying taxes but if i had to pay a little more it would be great that its going to help consevation.
 
http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/papers/misc/switchgrass-profile.html

Quote
"Switchgrass reaches full yield only in the third year after planting; it produces a quarter to a third of full yield in the first year, and about two thirds of full yield in the second year. When managed for energy production it can be cut once or twice a year with regular hay or silage equipment.

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Switch grass needs far less water or fertilizer then most other crops. It also has a heavy root system that helps filter water being soaked into the ground and is a outstanding buffer plant near lakes, rivers, streams or other waters. Bringing better ground and surface water quality. If cut at the right times of the year. Their could still be enough late summer/fall growth to provide good cover for pheasants and other wildlife. Better then a bare dirt corn field or harvested bean field.
 
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onpoint said:
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Their could still be enough late summer/fall growth to provide good cover for pheasants and other wildlife. Better then a bare dirt corn field or harvested bean field.
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Part of me thinks that the food value of the picked fields would be better than knee high switch grass.
 
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