Wildlife Habitat Practices for Your Farm

WILDLIFE HABITAT PRACTICES FOR YOUR

FARMPresented by: Tiffany Beachy

Private Lands Wildlife BiologistSmithfield, VA

Picture your farm…

Who else lives there?

Add Intrinsic value to your property• Manage areas for wildlife• Create a legacy that will last for generations• Act now to help the wildlife that share the land

with you!

What can I do??

Priority Habitats

• Emphasis on habitats of national, regional, or state significance

• 5 priority habitat types in Virginia:1. Upland grassland habitat2. Riparian corridor habitat3. Woodland and seasonal habitat for migrating wildlife4. Fish passage/stream improvement5. Other decreasing habitats

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program• A voluntary program through NRCS for those

who want to improve wildlife habitat on private lands

• Receive technical and financial assistance for establishment of specific wildlife habitat practices

Habitat practices-Field Borders

-Cut Back Field Borders

-Conservation Cover-NWSGs, Legumes, and Shrubs

-Hardwood Tree Establishment

-Shrub Establishment

-Hardwood Stand Improvement

-Disking

-Prescribed Burning

-Hedgerows

-Wetland Creation/Enhancement

-Pasture Conversion to NWSGs

-Herbicide Application

Pollinator Habitat• Plant native wildflowers near crop borders to

improve habitat for native pollinators and to improve crop yields

• Mix wildflowers with NWSG for quality early successional habitat

Field Borders

• Reduced yields along edges

• Competition for light, nutrients and water

• Might be better off as conservation cover

Field Borders

• A great way to create wildlife habitat - Native Warm Season Grasses + Forbs - Plant or allow to grow back naturally

• Benefits quail, rabbits, songbirds, etc.

Cut-Back Field Borders• Where: Crop fields bordered by non-desirable trees and/or invasive species

-Tree-of-Heaven, sweet gum, maple

• Use a High-speed forestry mulcher, chainsaws

• Herbicide treatment is important!

• Benefit: More productive crops along field edge plus improved wildlife habitat

FESCUE CONVERSION

• Fescue is not wildlife friendly-Carpet/Sod Forming

-Barrier for quail

• NWSGs grow in clumps and provide overhead cover and nesting structure

• NWSGs are drought tolerant- 2010 was extremely dry

- Tough on pasture land- Many switched to hay early

- Diversify pastures and have some NWSGs

NWSGs

CSGs

Photo taken 7/13/2010

NWSGs – Root Systems

PINE MANAGEMENT• Prescribed burns and firebreaks

• Expanded and seeded log decks and forestry roads

HARDWOOD MANAGEMENT• Forest Stand Improvement– Herbicide treatment of low quality trees

(sweetgum, maple, etc)

– Mechanical thinning to open up the canopy • Allow sunlight to reach forest floor• 50% of the ground should receive sunlight at noon

– Prescribed burning to promote herbaceous understory

HARDWOOD MANAGEMENT

• Hardwood tree planting• Filter strips for riparian areas

Prescribed Burning• Sets back succession• Controls hardwood regeneration• Removes pine “duff” that suppresses new plant

growth• A Certified Burn Manager must oversee the burn

What does this do for me?• Establish a legacy of natural resource

conservation for future generations• Relaxation• Entertainment• Healthy, ecologically responsible food source

for your family

What about additional income?• Hunting / Fishing / Trapping leases• Horse trails• Hiking / nature trails• Bird-watching

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE• I am available to visit your property– Look around – Search for opportunities– Prepare a habitat management plan

• Take advantage of this resource

• Contact me:757-357-7004 ext. [email protected]

Questions??