Practical Conservation

USDA’s Conservation Assessment Effects Project has just released two extensive reviews of the effects of agricultural conservation practices – like those used in CRP and other conservation programs  (public announcement here).  Part A addresses terrestrial habitats and Part B addresses aquatic habitats.  Even better is the dynamic bibliography.

NRCS and the American Farmland Trust have put together a Farmland Information Center with lots of resources (searchable) on the economics, legislation and practicality of preserving and protecting farmland.

Missouri Extension has published a great guide for installing field borders (herbaceous strips of vegetation replacing crops at field edges) entitled Field borders for agronomic, economic and wildlife benefits.   The document illustrates some important principles of corridor design that we focus on in my course, but that are not incorporated (intentionally!) into farm plans nearly enough.  The document is b/w, but color versions of the pictures can be viewed on the html version HERE.

A recent study from the UK suggests that cattle and sheep that graze on natural grasslands (vs. improved pastures) may be both tastier and healthier.  Links to the ESRC report HERE, news releases HERE and HERE.

Would tastier and healthier meat command a higher price at market?  This finding, if replicated, could be a powerful incentive for producers to incorporate more natural/native grass into grazing systems, which would likely benefit grassland birds and other wildlife.

Thanks to the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog.

I have added the following updates to the Grassland Management Manuals page:

Converting Common Bermudagrass to NWSG.  (Barnes and Washburn) from www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Handling the Tall Fescue Problem from the Southeast Quail Study group via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Fescue Eradication by the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Native Warm-season Perennial Grasses for Forage in Kentucky by the UK Cooperative Extension Service via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Establishing Native Warm Season Grasses via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Native Warm Season Grasses for Wildlife via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Warm Season Grasses from Penn State Univeristy via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Warm Season Grasses and Wildlife from Penn State Univeristy via www.wildlifemanagement.info.

Restoring Native Grasslands by Texas Cooperative Extension via www.wildlifemanagement.info.