Practical Conservation

5 Aug 2010.  The tool has been updated.

USDA has a new tool that lets you download soil and pasture rental rates (for CRP and other uses) in a variety of ways.  Also has an EI caclulator.

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.

Food safety concerns (like the e. coli – spinach scare) are influencing the amount of natural habitat in some agricultural areas.

From the article ” That translates into ripping out trees and bushes to create sterile buffer zones, up to 100 metres wide, to keep deer and other animals out of “crop blocks.” Not only does this strategy do little to impede the wildlife – which in any case is highly unlikely to carry E. coli – but it also destroys habitat for insects that pollinate plants or eat pests. The buffers also promote erosion and allow pollutants into streams.“

I am all for food safety, but grassland buffers may reduce E. coli in runoff containing cattle feces,  {which are being ‘scorched’ -Sam Riffell}.

How this plays out for wildlife will worth watching.

{Thanks to Ralph Maughan’s Wildlife News for putting me on to this}

The USDA just opened up > 24 million acres of CRP to help offset increased feed costs. Many wildlife concerns are directly addressed. “Eligible land may not be hayed or grazed until after the end of the primary nesting season. Also, some ….. land must be reserved for wildlife and …… must have a conservation plan. In many instances, the removal of some of the grass cover will increase the diversity of the stand and provide long-term benefits for wildlife. Further, the most environmentally-sensitive land …. will not be eligible.” {emphasis mine}. This has been met with mixed reviews, so I link some of them below:

“Opinions vary….” Brownfield Network.

“America’s Duck Factory to also serve as Beef Factory.” Ducks Unlimited.

“Beef groups oppose USDA Plan….” Cattle Network.

“Corn prices slip after USDA opens….” MarketWatch.

“Are we subsidizing forages?” AgWeb Blogs.

“Mixed feelings….” from Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever at Eden Prairie News.

“CRP Release Rankles Hay Growers…” – from Hay & Forage Grower.

“Pros & Cons of USDA Releasing….“  – from Wallaces Farmer.

“…buried deep in this monster bill are what could be the seeds of change.” FarmPolicy.com summarizes the new Farm Bill. Many of these seeds of change may be good for conservation.

CP33 – Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds – is a relatively new practice available through continuous sign-up Conservation Reserve Program. Specifications for the buffers were designed with northern bobwhite and other grassland birds in mind. A big plus is that economic research suggests these buffers are profitable for the producer, too.

Listen to 4 farmers tell their own story (click image below) about incorporating CP33 Habitat Buffers into their farming operations (courtesy Forestry & Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University).