sherco booklet

8/8/2019 SherCo Booklet

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Focus onFocus onFocus onFocus onFocus onFocus onFocus onFocus on

PheasantsPheasantsPheasantsPheasantsPheasantsPheasantsPheasantsPheasantsTourTourTourTourTourTourTourTour

Sherman ReservoirSherman Reservoir

August 9, 2006August 9, 2006


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Sherman County Pheasants Forever volunteers donate their time and equip-ment to upgrade habitat on Sherman Reservoir. Over the last three years, vol-unteers have upgraded over 650 acres of habitat on the area.


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Table of Contents

The Tour and the Study Area .....................................................

The Focus On Pheasants Partnership ....................................1

Preliminary Research ...............................................................2

CRP Mid Contract Management...............................................2

Contacts.....................................................................................3

Pheasants Forever....................................................................3

NE Natural Legacy Project .......................................................3

Notes..........................................................................................40


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Focus on Pheasants

Tour Route (Dry)


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Stop A

Site History and Management

Sherman Reservoir Trail #5, Field #17, 40 acres Sherman County PF chapter members disc area, end of March 2003 disc 3 to 4 times, fuelwas reimbursed by NG&PC

Field was seeded on 5/15/03 @ 10.5 lb/ac. by NG&PC personnel with Traux drill, Seeded tBLM #4 Custom - Ladino clover, red clover, alfalfa, Cicer milkvetch & hairy vetch

Demo plots were established within Field #17 on 9/28/05; plot size 160' X160' = .58 ac.

Plot #1

Mowed 9/28/05

Disc 10/6/05 - east twice & west oncePlot #2

Disc 10/6/05 - east twice & west oncePlot #3

Mowed 9/28/05Plot #4

Mowed 9/28/05

Disc 4/4/06; east twice & west oncePlot #5

Disc 4/4/06; east twice & west oncePlot #6

No TreatmentPlot #7

Application of Diuron (Karmax) on 4/5/06, @ 2.25 lb./ac, cost $14.34/ac.Plot #8

Mowed 9/28/06

Application of Diuron (Karmax) on 4/5/06, @ 2.25 lb./ac., cost $14.34/ac.Plot #9

Application of Arrow (Select) on 4/20/06, @ 6 oz./ac., cost $14.33/ac.Plot #10

mowed on 9/28/05

Application of Arrow (Select) on 4/20/06, @ 6 oz./ac., cost $14.33/ac.Plot #11 Application of Roundup on 4/20/06, @ 1 qt./ac., cost $13.81/ac.Plot #12

mowed on 9/28/06

Application of Roundup 4/20/06 @ 1 qt./ac., cost $13.81/ac.Plot #13

No Treatment


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Field #29 Establishment of Legumes

Field was hayed between August 15

th

& 30

th

, 2005 Sprayed with Roundup on 10/28/05 @ 1qt./ac.; cost $12.93/ac. Seeded on 4/13/06 @ 10 lb./ac with PF mix #3 & #5; PF mix #5 - Maximilian sunflower,

purple prairie clover, alfalfa, red clover & blackeyed Susan; PF mix #3 same but substituteIllinois bundleflower for ppcl.

part of the area was disked prior to planting.

Field #30 Establishment of legumes Field was hayed between August 15th & 30th2005 Disked as least three times by G & P personnel with 12' disc rental

Seeded on 4/20/06 @ 10lb./ac. with PF mix #4 - Maximilian sunflower, alfalfa, Illinois bun-dleflower, blackeyed Susan & red clover

Stop B

Stop C


Site C, Trail #10; Field #20 north, 4 acres

Field was disced by Sherman County PF members 3 to 4 times spring of 2004 Field seeded by contractor on 4/29/04 to 5/3/04, seeded @ 10 lb./ac, cost $12.50/ac. for

drilling only. Seeded to BLM #3 - Maximilian sunflower, black-eyed Susan, alfalfa, Illinoisbundleflower & red clover

Application of Arrow (Select) by floater on 4/20/06 @ 6 oz./ac., cost $14.33/ac.


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Stop D


Site D, Trail #10; Field #28, 35 acres

Area was hayed 8/5/04 Field was disked twice by Sherman County PF chapter members & NG&PC personnel wit

rental tractor & disc. Spring 2005 Seeded by NG&PC personnel on 5/ 2&3/05 @ 10 lb./ac. on north with alfalfa, red clove

Illinois bundleflower, Maximilian sunflower & black-eyed Susan. The south seeded bycontractor @$14.00/ac. JD drill; BLM #3 - Maximilian sunflower, Illinois bundleflower, al-falfa, red clover & black-eyed Susan @ 15 lb./ac.

Stop E


Site E, Trail #10; Field #13, 14 acres Field was disked by Sherman County PF members 3 to 4 times early spring of 2003 Seeded on 5/13/03 by NG&PC personnel with No-till Traux drill @ 6 lb./ac with BLM #1 -

alfalfa, sweet clover & red clover Burned on 4/11/06

Stop F


Site F, Trail #10; Field #21 Area hayed on 8/5/03 Field was disced by Sherman County PF chapter members spring 2004, disced twice Field was seeded by contractor on 4/29/04 to 5/3/04; cost for drilling @ $12.50/ac.; seeded

@ 10 lb./ac with BLM #5 - purple prairie clover, Maximilian sunflower, black-eyed Susan,alfalfa & red clover

burned 4/11/06


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Stop G

Site History and ManagementSite G, Trail #6 Field #18 east

Disked by Sherman County PF chapter members 3 to 4 times early spring 2004 Seeded by contractor 4/29/04 to 5/3/04 @ cost $12.50/ac., seeded @ 10 lb.ac. with BLM

#4 Cicer milkvetch, ladino white clover, alfalfa, hairy vetch & red clover Mowed a portion of area due to heavy infestation of musk thistle on 6/15/05, mowed short

enough not much regrowth on thistle, destroyed one pheasant nest & saw 1 hen with sixchicks

Application of roundup @ 1qt./ac. on 4/5/06 on lower terrace, not top terrace used as con-trol; cost $13.81/ac.; purpose to control musk thistle.

Trail #6, Field #18, west

Seed history same as east side Spot sprayed thistles with 2-4-D/Banvel mix killed legumes in 10' X 8' area in 5/05 Application of Arrow (Select) @ 6 oz./ac. on 4/20/06; cost $14.33/ac.

Stop H


Site H, Trail #6; Field #32, Optional, the site is a short walk south of parking lot would work forthe Dry or Wet conditions.

Field was fall burned on 10/17/05 Sod seeded with Traux drill by NG&PC personnel on 4/18/06 to 5/2/06 @ 10 lb./ac. BLM

#4 - Maximilian sunflower, alfalfa, Illinois bundleflower, black-eyed Susan & red clover;BLM #5 - Maximilian sunflower, alfalfa, purple prairie clover, black-eyed Susan & red clo-ver.

Portion of the field that was seeded was also sprayed with roundup @ 1qt./ac. on 4/20/06cost $13.81/ac.


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Focus on Pheasants

Tour Route (Wet)


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Stop A


Site A, Trail #12, Field #3 , 27 acres; short walk from road

Sherman County PF chapter members disc area, end of March 2003. Disc 3 to 4 times,fuel was reimbursed by NG&PC

Field was seeded on 4/14 &15/03 @ 6 lb/ac. by NG&PC personnel with Sukup drill, Seeded to BLM #5 - alfalfa, sweet clover, Maximilian sunflower, black-eyed susan, & pur-

ple prairie clover Application of Select @ 6 oz./ac. on 4/18/05, cost $19.80/ac. Trail #12, Field #6 (small field next to road) Sherman County PF chapter members disc area, end of March 2003, disc 3 to 4 times Field was seeded 4/14/03 by NG&PC personnel @ 6lb./ac. with Sukup drill Seeded to BLM #5 - alfalfa, sweet clover, Maximilian sunflower, black-eyed susan & pur-

ple prairie clover Application of Select on 4/18/05 @ 6 oz./ac., cost $19.80/ac. Application of Diuron (Karmax) 2.25 lb./ac. cost $14.34/ac.

Trail #12, Field #6 ( two small hills to west)

Sherman County PF chapter members disc area, end of March 2003, disc 3 to 4 times Field was seeded on 4/14/03 by NG&PC personnel @ 6 to 8 lb./ac. Seeded to BLM #5 - alfalfa, sweet clover, black-eyed susan, Maximilian sunflower, purple

prairie clover Application of Select @ 6 oz./ac. on 4/18/05, cost $19.80/ac. Application of Arrow (Select) @ 6 oz./ac. on 4/20/06, cost $14.33/ac.

Stop B


Site B, Trail #12; Field #1 (Next to west parking lot) Sherman County PF chapter members disc area, end of March 2003, disc 3 to 4 times Field was seeded by NG&PC personnel on 4/3/03 @ 6 lb./ac. Field was seeded to BLM #1 alfalfa, sweet clover & red clover Application of roundup on 4/18/05 @ 2 qt./ac., costs $19.80/ac. Application of roundup on 4/20/06 @ 1 qt./ac. costs $13.81/ac.


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Stop C


Site C, Trail #12; Field #7 Sherman County PF chapter members disc area, end of March 2003, disc 3 to 4 times Field was seeded by NG&PC personnel on 4/22/03 @ 6 lb./ac. Field was seeded to BLM #5 - alfalfa, sweet clover, Maximilian sunflower, black-eyed

susan & purple prairie clover.

Stop D


Site D, Trail #10; Field #28 Field was hayed on 8/15/04 Sherman County PF chapter members & NG&PC personnel disced area spring 2005, disc

2 to 3 times Seeded 5/2 to 5/05 @ 10 lb./ac. by NG&PC personnel

Field was seeded to BLM #4 - alfalfa, red clover, Illinois bundleflower, black-eyed susan &Maximilian sunflower. Application of Diuron (Karmax) on 4/5/06 @ 2.25 lb./ac., cost $14.34/ac. Herbicide was

applied on the north of field just north of shelterbelt

Optional - Trail #10, Field #20 north Sherman County PF chapter members disc area, end of March 2004, disc 3 to 4 times Seeded 4/29/04 to 5/3/04 by contractor @ 10 lb./ac., cost $12.50/ac. Seeded to BLM #3 - Maximilian sunflower, black-eyed susan, alfalfa, Illinois bundleflower

& red clover

Application of Arrow (Select) on 4/20/06 @ 6 oz./ac., cost $14.33/ac.


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Stop E


Site E, Trail #6; Field #18 (east ) Sherman County PF chapter members disc area, end of March 2004, disc 3 to 4 times Seeded 4/29/04 to 5/3/04 by contractor @ 10 lb./ac., cost $12.50/ac. Seeded to BLM #4 - Cicer milkvetch, Ladino white clover, alfalfa, hairy vetch & red clover Shred portion of the area due to heavy infestation of musk thistle on 6/15/05, mowed low

to prevent regrowth of musk thistle. Destroyed one pheasant nest & saw one hen with sixchicks while mowing.

Application of roundup on 4/5/06 @ 1qt./ac. on lower terrace, not top terrace used as con-trol, cost $13.81/ac.

Trail #6, Field #18, (west )

Sherman County PF chapter members disc area, end of March 2004, disc 3 to 4 times Seeded 4/29/04 to 5/3/04 by contractor @ 10 lb./ac., cost $12.50/ac Seeded to BLM #4 - Cicer milkvetch, Ladino white clover, alfalfa, hairy vetch & red clover Application of Arrow (Select) @ 6 oz./ac. on 4/20/06, cost $14.33/ac.

Stop F


Optional Site F, Trail #6; Field #32, Optional, the site is a short walk south of parking lot wouldwork for the Dry or Wet conditions.

Field was fall burned on 10/17/05 Sod seeded with Traux drill by NG&PC personnel on 4/18/06 to 5/2/06 @ 10 lb./ac. BLM

#4 - Maximilian sunflower, alfalfa, Illinois bundleflower, black-eyed susan & red clover;BLM #5 - Maximilian sunflower, alfalfa, purple prairie clover, black-eyed susan & red clo-ver.

Portion of the field that was seeded was sprayed with roundup @ 1qt./ac. on 4/20/06, cost$13.81/ac.


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Disking and Interseeding Two passes minimum is required in stands of smooth bromegrass or switchgrass. In some

cases, our efforts have reached as high as five passes with a disk. Even aggressive disking inthis fashion does not make fields susceptible to erosion. It is far easier to disk too little than itis to disk too much.

Haying or burning the grass stand prior to disking reduces litter and improves the ease of disk-ing, but is not critical to achieving good results. Removal of litter may decrease the number ofdisking passes necessary to achieve the desired impact and results.

Smooth bromegrass typically returns aggressively in the 3rd growing season following manage-ment. While the smooth bromegrass comes back aggressively, the grass stand can still providegood structure and nesting cover at that point.

Disking prior to September 15

th

on smooth bromegrass does not sufficiently set the grass back.Regrowth occurs within months and significantly reduces the effective length of the treatment byat least one season.

Disking smooth bromegrass in the spring is the most effective treatment, but the ability to ac-complish field work prior to May 1st is weather dependent.

Care should be taken to stay out of waterways and away from the field borders when selectingareas for disking.

Care should be taken to identify areas of known noxious weed infestations and then design workaround these areas. If the area had a history of noxious weeds prior to enrollment in CRP, it will

have noxious weeds following a disking. Frank discussions with landowners about early successional plants (weeds) need to be discussed

prior to initiation of work. The landowners tolerance to early successional plants and desire formore wildlife will help guide your management technique application.

Effective communication with USDA field office, local weed superintendent, landowners, andmedia can greatly increase support for habitat improvements such as this. This partnership hasbeen enhanced by substantial support from the media, partners and landowners.

The legume seeding mixtures used (see PF seed mixes) produced desirable plant composition andstructure. The addition of white sweetclover to mixtures may be desirable due to its later matu-ration date.

Annual plant responses varied from site to site. Generally speaking, common sunflower and an-nual foxtail are primary annuals that show up in the first growing season. Common sunflowersvirtually disappear from the site after the first year.

Grassland Management

~ Observations and Opinions ~


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Prescribed fire and haying Prescribed fire on warm-season CRP grass stands can be effective in reducing cool-season gra

encroachment and for certain tree control if timed correctly. It also reduces grass litter and invirates regrowth. Some annual plants also respond favorably to increased sunlight penetration.

To reduce the encroachment of cool-season grasses, late April burns are recommended.

The reduction of litter following a burn provides an excellent opportunity to:

Disk and interseed a mixture of legumes.

Increase disturbance on the site.

Use a no-till drill to interseed legumes into the existing grass stand.

Prescribed fire on an established cool-season grass stand does very little to improve the grastand composition or diversity. It will reduce the litter and can be effective in controlling so

woody plants.

Haying can also reduce litter and provide an opportunity to either disk and interseed or to apother management techniques. Interseeding a legume mixture directly into a hayed cool-seasgrass stand without another form of disturbance produced minimal benefits.

Chemical burn back and interseeding Where disking is not feasible, chemical burn back using a glyphosphate herbicide may provide

good alternative.

Situations where the use of herbicide might be preferred include areas with known noxious weinfestations, lack of tillage equipment, or hayed cool-season grass stands.

The use of Select herbicide or other non-broadleaf herbicides may offer some hope for reducthe regrowth of cool-season grasses in upgraded areas.

Our experience has found that when controlling smooth bromegrass with a glyphosphate, an apcation of 28 ounces per acre with an AMS applied between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on a warm dworks best.



With Round-UPWithout Round-UP


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Noxious Weeds

Noxious weeds were identified as an issue to be addressed in the planning ofFocus On Pheasantactivities. The plants on Nebraskas noxious weed list that were anticipated to be of concern in-cluded musk, plumeless, and Canada thistles.

CRP tracts with a history of thistle problems and where thistle seeds were present in the seedbank were more problematic than tracts with limited thistle history. When thistle problems oc-curred on CRP tracts that had been disked and interseeded with legumes as part of the Focus OnPheasants project, appropriate treatments were applied.

Those treatments included hand chopping, spot shredding, and spot spraying with appropriateherbicides. If thistle problems were widespread over a large area, then a blanket application ofappropriate herbicide that was labeled for legumes and/or shredding of affected areas were treat-ments that provided acceptable results.

Communication and cooperation among all involved entities were the key to resolving noxiousweed problems on CRP tracts while still developing and maintaining desired vegetative diversityprovided by the interseeded legumes.

Final Thoughts Cost share rates, generally speaking, are too low. Even for landowners that seriously desire to

see habitat improve and for those that are only conducting this work as a requirement of CRP,this will be viewed as a financial burden or will result in sub par results due to lack of awareness.

There are very few certainties in life...two that can be applied to Mid Contract Managementare: 1. You cant ever kill off smooth bromegrass with any amount of disking and 2. If you hadnoxious weeds before enrollment in CRP, they will show up again following disking.

While USDA technical guides are pretty complete at describing maximum management efforts(how deep to disk, how many passes, percent residue, etc.), they are generally weak on outlining the mini-mum management efforts required to accomplish the desired results. Our experience showedthat minimum efforts typically produced minimum, if any, results.


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Focus On Pheasants is a partnership effort formed in 2002 that brings together aunique combination of Federal, State and Local government agencies, conserva-tion groups, private industry and landowners.

This combination of groups have come together in an effort to improve mature grass stands through-out the state and provide better pheasant habitat. The average CRP field in Nebraska is now 16years old and has had little or no management performed on it during the life of its contract.

The primary focus of this partnership has been to increase the wildlife habitat quality and diversity ofCRP grass stands using the following management tools: Controlled burns Interseeding legumes Disking Chemical herbaceous vegetation control

Haying Grazing

Focus On Pheasants

The Focus On Pheasants Partnership


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Harlan County

Reservoir WMA

Sherman ReservNebraska One Box

Foundation

Focus On Pheasants

Location of Focus Areas within Nebrask


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PreliminaryPreliminary

Results of theResults of the

ProgramProgram


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0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006Year

Sherman Reservoir Pheasant Crow Count Survey

# of Crows

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Sherman Reservoir Pheasant Brood Survey

# of Broods


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0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Sherman Reservoir Hunter Use Survey (Opening Weekend)

Pheasants / Hunters per Day

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Sherman Reservoir Pre-Season Flush Count Survey

# of Pheasants


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GENERAL CRP PRACTICE

Required Management Following

Establishment

A mid-contract management activity for the purpose of improving plant diversity and wildlife habitat conditions must be

ducted a minimum of one time during the contract period. CP-10 areas require a minimum of two management activitiecontract beginning and mid-contract. CP-25 prairie areas in Vegetative Zones III & IV require a minimum of two managemactivities on contracts longer than 10 years. Refer to appropriate FOTG standard and Nebraska Conservation Planning S20 for specifications associated with each practice and other details.

Acres enrolled into CP-3, CP-3A, and CP-11 shall utilize guidance provided under Tree Planting/Forestry for Continuous Cand CREP Practices. No management is required for acres enrolled into CP-12 (Food Plots) but proper maintenance iquired to meet the purposes of that practice.

ManagementOption

CRP Practice FOTGPractice

Conditions and Limitations RequiredInterval*

Tillage and

Interseeding

CP1-Introduced Grasses

and LegumesCP2-Native GrassesCP4B/4D-Permanent Wild-

life HabitatCP10-Vegetative Cover

Already Established

647

Early Succes-sional HabitatDevelopment/Management

Managed Haying***, Prescribed Burning, or

Mowing/Shredding may also be needed toremove excessive residue prior to tillage/seeding.

Interseeding may be conducted without tillageon sandy sites with a Wind Erodibility fac-tor (I) of 134 or greater provided an inter-seeder or similar device is used to createsome limited disturbance.

Interseeding must be conducted under this op-tion. Broadcast seeding is only allowed iftillage is completed prior to, or followingseeding and seeding rates are doubled.

Vegetative Zones III &

every 3-5 years onestablished;

Vegetative Zones I & Ievery 5-7 years onestablished

Note: Tillage may beneeded and recommenmore frequently on sitewith aggressive sod-forming grasses such asmooth brome or switcgrass.

InterseedingNative Forbs

Only

CP25-Rare and DecliningHabitats (prairie sitesonly)

643Restoration &

Management ofDeclining Habi-

tats

Mowing/Shredding, or Prescribed Burning mayalso be needed to remove excessive resi-due prior to seeding.

Drilling of native species provided an inter-seeder or similar device is used to createsome limited disturbance or a burn-downherbicide is used to reduce competitionfrom existing, perennial species in order toenhance establishment of the seeded spe-cies.

Vegetative Zones III &every 3-5 years onestablished;

Vegetative Zones I & Ievery 5-7 years onestablished

PrescribedBurning **

CP1-Introduced Grassesand Legumes

CP2-Native GrassesCP4B/4D-Permanent Wild-


338Prescribed

Burning

Broadcast seeding is only allowed if tillage iscompleted prior to, or following seedingand seeding rates are doubled.

Use techniques (timing, intensity, etc.) to pro-vide a benefit to plant diversity and wildlifehabitat.


Vegetative Zones I & Ievery 5-7 years onestablished.

Chemical Her-baceous Vege-tation Control **

CP1-Introduced Grassesand Legumes

CP2-Native GrassesCP4B/4D-Permanent Wild-


Already EstablishedCP25-Rare and Declining

Habitats (prairie sites

643Restoration &

Management ofDeclining Habi-

tatsand647

Early Succes-sional Habitat

Managed Haying***, Prescribed Burning, orMowing/Shredding may also be needed toremove excessive residue prior to herbi-cide application.

Not a substitute for noxious weed control orweed control during establishment.

Broadcast seeding is only allowed if tillage iscompleted prior to, or following seedingand seeding rates are doubled.


Vegetative Zones I & Ievery 5-7 years once

established.


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* Management activities may be conducted and cost-shared more frequently than the required interval, provided that theactivity is technically justified, improves wildlife habitat, and is not prohibited by 2-CRP paragraph 484.

** Interseeding of desired legumes or native grasses and/or forbs is recommended and can be cost-shared in conjunctionwith this activity.

*** Managed Haying used in conjunction with tillage/interseeding or chemical herbaceous vegetation control can be util-ized when necessary to remove excessive residue. Haying will result in a CRP program payment reduction. Managedhaying, by itself, will not provide the necessary vegetative response to meet the CRP management intent. Lands en-

rolled in CP-25 are not currently eligible for managed haying.

Note: High-intensity/short-duration grazing, if technically justified, may be substituted for, or used in conjunction with,these management options. The primary area where this is applicable is western Nebraska and the Sandhills region.Grazing will result in a CRP payment reduction. Managed grazing strategies other than high-intensity/short-duration willnot, by themselves, provide the necessary vegetative response to meet the CRP management intent. Lands enrolled inCP-25 are not currently eligible for managed grazing.

Early Successional Habitat Management (tillage) shall not be conducted within 50 feet of property boundaries without theapproval of the adjacent landowner or within 50 feet of field boundaries along State and County improved roads and

GENERAL CRP PRACTICE

Required Management Following

Establishment

~ Continued ~


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NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD

EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT DEVELOPMENT/MANAGEMENT

(ac.)

CODE 647

EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT DEVELOPMENT/MANAGEMENT (647

DEFINITION

Manage early plant succession to benefit desired wild-life or natural communities.

PURPOSE

Increase plant community diversity. Provide habitat for early successional wildlife spe-

cies.

Provide habitat for declining species.

CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES

On all lands where early successional habitat is to beestablished and/or maintained in a condition suitable forthe desired wildlife and plant species.

CRITERIA

Early successional management will be designed toachieve the desired plant community in density, verticaland horizontal structure, and plant species diversity.

Methods used will be designed to maintain soil erosionquality criteria unless the habitat being managed is de-pendent on active erosion processes, for example,blowouts or sparsely vegetated sand and gravel bars.For other habitats, an annual cover crop shall be estab-lished if soil erosion is expected to exceed T during orsubsequent to the year vegetation is manipulated. Re-fer to Cover Crop (340) standard for temporary coversto reduce erosion that are compatible with the desiredpermanent cover.

Vegetative manipulation to maximize plant andanimal diversity can be accomplished by distur-bance practices including prescribed burning,light disking, low density seeding, tree or brushremoval, mowing, grazing, herbicide application,water level manipulation, or a combination of theabove. Following such activities, early succes-sional plants will typically establish themselvesfrom the existing soil seed bank or from relativelydormant plants and rootstocks.

Early successional plants may also be estab-lished through deliberate seeding or planting.Native adapted plant materials will be used when-ever possible, but introduced species or evenmixtures of native and introduced species maybeappropriate depending upon objectives.

All seed and planting materials shall be labeledand meet state seed law and NRCS seed qualitystandards (refer to FOTG Section II, Pasture andHayland Interpretations, Grass and Forb SeedSource Requirements).

It is recommended that legume seed of intro-duced species shall be inoculated with theproper, viable rhizobia before planting.Management practices and activities are not todisturb cover during the primary nesting periodfor grassland species. Exceptions may be al-lowed when necessary to maintain the health ofthe plant community. Mowing may be neededduring the plant establishment period to controlundesired vegetation.Measures must be provided to control noxiousweeds in order to comply with state noxious weedlaws.

Spraying or other forms of noxious weed controlwill be done on a spot basis to protect insectfood sources for grassland nesting birds and toprotect forbs and legumes that benefit native pol-linators and other wildlife.

Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed. To obtain

the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

NE-T.G. Notice 540

Section IV

NRCS-JULY 2003


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Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed. To obtain

the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

NE-T.G. Notice 540

Section IV

NRCS-JULY 2003

This standard is not to be used where plant communi-ties considered as rare and declining will be adverselyimpacted. Refer to the Restoration and Managementof Declining Habitats (643) standard and specification.

CONSIDERATIONS

To minimize harm to nesting birds, make every at-tempt to avoid conducting soil or vegetation disturbingactivities from April 1 to August 1 (most nesting gen-erally occurs in Nebraska between April 15 and July15). When those dates cannot be avoided, documentin the plan or note the reason why and/or what meas-ures are planned that will reduce or localize adverseimpacts. (For Example, disking may be conductedearly in the nesting season because of prolonged wetfield conditions. Disking will be done on a rotationalbasis to allow some areas to remain undisturbed eachyear.)

All habitat manipulations will be planned and man-aged according to soil capabilities. Recommenda-tions for management will avoid excessive soil losswhen consistent with project goals.

Consider potential vehicular safety concerns posed bytall vegetation adjacent to roads and highways. Roadintersections and areas with high big game popula-tions may be of special concern. Consider settingback from the field border 50 to 100 feet as appropri-ate.

Consider the potential for the spread of undesired

early successional plants (annual weeds) ontoneighboring lands. Consider consulting with adjacentlandowners about planned activities. If appropriate,consider setting back from property boundaries.

Consider managing vegetation under a scheduledrotational plan so that only a portion of the area is dis-turbed in a given year. This will assure that someundisturbed habitat is available and that several suc-cessional stages of cover are in close proximity.Early successional treatments should be rotatedthroughout the managed area.

Treatment shall be accomplished whenever succes-sion has gone past the desired stages.

Managing for early successional plant communi-ties is beneficial if not essential for less mobileanimal species. The less mobile the species, themore important to provide all the habitat require-ments in a small area.

Design and install the practice to facilitate opera-

tion of machinery or prescribed burning activities.When ever possible, lay out strips to have somemultiple or full width passes by all farm imple-ments. Mowing of herbaceous cover for weedcontrol is strongly discouraged but may be usedduring the plant establishment period, alone or inconjunction with other practices to control unde-sired competitive vegetation.

Grazing may be used as a management tool toachieve the intended purpose of this practice. Agrazing plan designed for habitat improvementthat addresses grazing frequency, intensity, and

duration is required.

This practice may be used to promote the conser-vation of declining species, including threatenedand endangered (plant, wildlife or aquatic) spe-cies.

PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS

Specifications for this practice shall be preparedfor each site. Specifications shall be recordedusing approved specifications sheets, job sheets,narrative statements in the conservation plan, or

other acceptable documentation.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

The following actions shall be carried out to insurethat this practice functions as intended throughoutits expected life. These actions include normalrepetitive activities in the application and use ofthe practice (operation), and repair and upkeep ofthe practice (maintenance).

Any use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemi-cals to assure early successional management

shall not compromise the intended purpose.

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PRACTICE SPECIFICATION

EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT DEVELOPMENT/MANAGEMENT

DISKING

1. SCOPE

Grass and/or legume seedings that have been established for many years can lose vigor,productivity, and species diversity. Such stands are sometimes described as being sod-bound. Such sites usually have very little open soil surface between plants. Plants mayhave low stature or produce less than normal amounts of seed or leaf material. These sitesalso typically are dominated by only a few, or even one, perennial species. Annual plantsare generally absent.

Ring-necked pheasant, gray (Hungarian) partridge, bobwhite quail, and mourning doves arepopular wildlife species that require or benefit from good quality early successional habitat.Disking or similar tillage operations can be useful for establishing or releasing early succes-sional plants and providing habitat for these wildlife species.

2. SITE LIMITATIONS

Disking will generally not be prescribed for areas of concentrated flow such as waterways,sandy sites with very little residue or organic matter on or near the soil surface, sites withslopes greater than 20%, or sites with an extremely high risk of colonization by noxiousweeds. Disking should not be conducted if poor soil moisture conditions are likely to delayplant regrowth and seed germination.

Disking on sloping ground will be done on the contour. Multiple equipment passes are ac-ceptable. To prevent excessive (greater than T) water erosion, sites with slopes greater tha9% will maintain a minimum of 30% residue cover after disking and will not have disturbedareas wider than those prescribed in the following table. Exceptions are allowed if widerstrips are justified and documented through the use of current erosion prediction tools. Thewidth of the undisturbed area between disked strips will be 20 feet or greater.

NE T. G. 52Section IV

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Max. CrossSlope Width Slope%

3. DISKING DEPTH AND INTENSITY

Disking depth (ground penetration) and as prescribed by NRCS will be based onsoil type, slope, existing cover, purpose of disking, and producers objectives.

Maximum depth for nonsandy sites dominated by smooth bromegrass, switch-

grass, or reed canarygrass will be 6 inches if slopes are equal to or less than 9%.Maximum depth for all other sites will be 4 inches.

4. DISKING DATES

Disking may be done from July 15 to May 1. August 15 to September 15 appearsto be optimal.

5. DESIRABLE EARLY SUCCESSIONAL PLANTS

Desirable early successional plants are those that:

Produce seeds that are consumed by birds and small mammals or

Provide forage for insects preferred by birds and small mammals or

That provide cover that hides young wildlife (especially upland gamebird chicks)but that still has sufficiently low plant stem densities to allow easy chick movementthrough it.

200 feet 9 to 11

150 feet 12 to 15

100 feet 16 to 20


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Desirable Early Successional Plants and Their Preferred Sites (list is not complete)

Most sites have a soil seed bank that contains sufficient kinds and amounts viable seed.The existing seed bank can be supplemented by drilling or broadcasting seed of desiredspecies. In addition to the use of crops suitable for use as wildlife food plots, the followingspecies are some that can be used provided they are adapted to the site. They can beseeded August 15 to September 15 and November 1 to May 15. Refer to Pasture and Hay-land Planting (512) and FOTG Section II Pasture and Hayland Interpretations Table 2 to de-termine the adaptability of additional species. The use of two or more species is recom-mended.

Annual Sunflower Uplands Chickweed Uplands

Barnyardgrass Wetlands/ Lambsquarters Uplands

Moist Sites Kochia Uplands

Foxtail Uplands Texas Croton Uplands

Giant Ragweed Moist Sites/ Uplands Sweetclover Uplands

Rocky Mntn. Beeplant Uplands Beebalm Uplands

Smartweeds Wetlands/ Moist Sites Yellow woodsorrel Uplands

Fall Panicum Uplands Plantain Moist Sites/ Uplands

Showy Partridgepea Uplands Crabgrass Uplands

Pigweed Moist Sites/ Uplands Witchgrass Uplands

Black Medic Uplands Dock Uplands

Beggarticks Wetlands Bedstraw Moist Sites

Pennycress Uplands Hemp Uplands

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Legume seed of introduced species shall be inoculated in accordance with the directionson the inoculant container. Use the correct inoculant for each legume species

6. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Reapply this practice periodically to set back succession and restore the desired habitat

conditions.

Monitor wildlife use to determine practice success and to better prescribe future habitatmanagement activities.

Control noxious and other undesirable plant species as needed.

SpeciesVegetative Zone

AdaptabilitySuggested

Seeding Rate 1, 2

Alfalfa Statewide 3.0 to 5.0

Red Clover III, IV 2.0 to 4.0

Sweet Clover Statewide 2.0 to 4.0

Ladino Clover IV 0.5 to 1.0

Alsike Clover III, IV 0.7 to 1.5

Strawberry Clover III, IV 1.5 to 3.0

White Clover II, III, IV 0.5 to 1.0

Annual Sunflower Statewide 4.0 to 8.0

Maximillian Sunflower Statewide 1.0 to 2.0

Canada Milkvetch Statewide 2.0 to 4.0

Showy Partridgepea II, III, IV 5.0 to 10.0

1. Rates provided are for drilling a single species. Reduce rates proportionately when using two

or more species in a mixture.2. Rates will be doubled if broadcast.


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Where To Get Help


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NebraskasNebraskasNebraskasNebraskasNebraskasNebraskasNebraskasNebraskas

Natural LegacyNatural LegacyNatural LegacyNatural LegacyNatural LegacyNatural LegacyNatural LegacyNatural LegacyProjectProjectProjectProjectProjectProjectProjectProject


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Nebraskas Natural Legacy ProjecNebraskas Natural Legacy ProjecNebraskas Natural Legacy ProjecNebraskas Natural Legacy Projec

Wildlife and their habitats play an integral role in Nebraskan's daily lives. Without wildlife we could not experiencthunderous roar of ten thousand sandhill cranes, the agility of a swift fox prancing across the shortgrass prairie,the nervous back-stroke of the rainbow-colored finescale dance. These precious examples of wildlife along with prairies, woodlands, and streams that provide essential habitat would not exist without the passionate commitmeNebraska's conservation community and the support of its citizenry.

Still, despite more than a century of conservation work, much remains to be done. More than two dozen speciesplants and animals in Nebraska are listed as threatened or endangered and another 500 species are consideredenough to warrant concern by the conservation community. Without new sources of funding and a well thought oplan, the future of our rich wildlife legacy will be in jeopardy.

In 2000, the US Congress began to address the enormous challenge of conserving "all" wildlife by creating the SWildlife Grants Program. This program was developed to assist states in conserving rare and declining species ato promote proactive conservation to avert future declines of more common species. The Nebraska Game and PCommission is using this program to award grants to dozens of organizations working to conserve wildlife.

As a condition to receiving this new federal funding, Congress is requiring each state to develop a comprehensivwildlife conservation strategy. In 2003, The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission launched the Nebraska Nat

Legacy Project to meet this requirement. More importantly, the Natural Legacy Project is providing a seat at the for all interests to join forces and build an effective plan to conserve wildlife in Nebraska.Building Partnerships

The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project is a project for all Nebraskans. Through decades of trial and error, governagencies, conservation and agricultural organizations have learned that conservation is too big a task for one endo it alone. The Natural Legacy Project is bringing together dozens of organizations representing all facets of theservation and agricultural community to develop a shared vision for the future. Over the coming months, we will collaborating to develop the strategies necessary to conserve the broadest array of wildlife possible. Through thifort we hope many of the controversies that have plagued us in the past will be replaced by a new commitment twork together on behalf of the wildlife resources Nebraskans cherish so deeply. There are unprecedented new o

tunities for involvement throughout this planning process.Partners involved in developing the blue print include:

Audubon Nebraska, Conservation Alliance of the Great Plains, Ducks Unlimited, Natural Resources ConservatioService, Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environment Education, Nebraska Association of Resources Dtricts, Nebraska Cattlemen, Inc., Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska FarmeUnion, Nebraska Forest Service, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Nebraska Partnership for All-Bird Convation Nebraska Wildlife Federation, Pheasants Forever, Inc., Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Rainwater Basin Joint Vture, The Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service

If you or your organization would like to become involved, contact the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project to find ohow you can help. For more information, contact:

The Nebraska Natural Legacy ProjectNebraska Game and Parks Commission

Mark HumpertWildlife Diversity Program Manager

(402) [email protected]


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The same field was disked and interseeded with legumes to increase the diversity of the grass stand throthe CRP-MAP program. It now has a diversity of cover that provides nesting, brood-rearing and winter cofor a variety of wildlife including grassland songbirds, pheasants and quail.

This photo is of a 13-year old CRP field that is over 1,000 acres in size and has had no management pformed on it during its contract. It was originally established to a mixture of Brome grass and alfalfa an

now a monoculture of Brome grass that provides minimal wildlife benefits.


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A grass stand that has been dominated by smooth bromegrass

and lost its productivity for upland wildlife. An area that wasexcellent wildlife habitat in the past has now naturally movedthrough succession to a more mature grass stand in need ofmanagement.

On April 7, 2004, the grass stand is disked with three pass

and then interseeded with a legume mixture. A minimum three passes with a disk was necessary with a mature staof bromegrass but still leaves more than 50% residue.

On July 29, 2004, the area now has a wide diversity of plantspecies, has an open understory, supports plants that attractinsects, and is once again a diverse grassland. The legumesthat were interseeded into the disked area are already present

On May 30, 2005, the area now shows the true value ofperforming upgrades on mature grass stand. The area providing excellent nesting and brood-rearing cover for awide range of wildlife especially pheasant quail water-

sherco booklet

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