CRP Pollinator Habitat

**Please see the note below regarding mowing for maintenance of current CRP practices. If you have any further questions, please call the SWCD office.*


MOWING GUIDELINES FOR CRP
The Important Facts of Mowing and Protecting Wildlife Habitat
By Jason Bleich Farm Bill Biologist – Vermilion County USDA 3/17
 
As many of you know, our USDA conservation programs are now putting special emphasis on getting highly diverse prairie habitat (also known as pollinator habitat) back on the landscape.  In this article, I’m going to touch on the facts and policies behind mowing in this new era of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
 
Back in the days of brome / alfalfa seed mixes, conservation agencies promoted late summer mowing after the pheasant nesting season (typically starting mowing rotations on August 1).  Back then, mowing was a management practice used to promote alfalfa in these brome stands.  Over the last 20 years, research and field experience have proven over and over again that brome / alfalfa stands provide little to no wildlife value once the brome takes over. 
 
In the last few years, CRP has changed gears and now focuses on planting good native grass and wildflower mixes for wildlife habitat.  Lots of emphasis has also been put on converting those old rank brome fields to these good native grass / wildflower wildlife mixes. 
 
In this new era, mowing is now restricted to only the 1st year of a contract.  In the first growing season, it may be necessary to mow once or twice in early July – early August to suppress weeds in a new seeding.  Please contact the SWCD staff or your local biologist to see if mowing is necessary.  The general rule of thumb with establishment mowing is to mow HIGH and do not mow past the first week in August (otherwise you will hurt the new native seedlings).  Once these native grass / wildflower mixes are established, mowing anytime during the year is prohibited because it can be detrimental to the stand (and to wildlife).  This rule stands for all CRP practices including filter strip buffers and field borders. 
 
FSA now states…
 
Mowing after the 1st growing season is no longer authorized without permission from the USDA office.  This stands for all CRP practices including filter strips and buffers.  After establishment, only spot treatments can be implemented to control weeds outside of the pheasant nesting season (April 15 – August 1).  The FSA COC can allow limited disturbance during the nesting season only if absolutely necessary -  i.e. spot treatment of a noxious weed that must occur immediately. 
 
Over the decades, Ford County has been a major hub for upland wildlife conservation.  With the overwhelming popularity and success of CRP Pollinator, SAFE, and wetland practices, Ford County landowners have once again proven that modern agriculture practices and wildlife conservation can co-exist and benefit one another.  If you have questions about the mowing policies or enrolling land into CRP, please feel free to contact the USDA office this spring and summer! 




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