“The central thesis of game management is this: game can be restored by the creative use of the same tools which heretofore destroyed it – axe, plow, cow, fire, and gun.” (Leopold 1933)

Food Plotson MN DNR Lands

Greg HochPrairie Habitat Team Supervisor

We are currently developing a new Directive and Best Management Practices for food plots

Agriculture and wildlife management are constantly changing as is the landscape

Need to periodically review our management in light of new science, technology, and practices

pollinator issues in recent yearspollinator BMPs >> food plot BMPs

How can we use the best of both ag and wildlife to help meet the DNR Mission?

We want to use agricultural practices, but in a way that most benefits wildlife and won’t be detrimental to soil and water

While we are using the same agricultural tools, we have very different objectives/goals

There’s not a lot of food out there through the winter

Food Production for Wildlife Management

Isley (1993) – 4 purposes of food plots on DNR lands

1) Provide nutrition2) Keep wildlife near cover3) Reduce depredations on surrounding ag land4) Provide recreation

Tranel, Bailey and Haroldson (2008) 7 function of food plots on DNR lands

5) Provide winter food6) Providing food and loafing areas for migrants7) Depredation abatements8) Holding wildlife on public and for hunting or viewing9) Grassland management10) Reproductive habitat

1) Provide winter food for resident wildlife (pheasant, turkey, deer, elk)maintain healthy body condition through the winterenhance survival

2) Provide food and loafing areas for migrants (geese and ducks)3) Depredation abatement (deer and waterfowl)

concentrate wildlife on WMAs to minimize crop damage on surrounding land4) Hold wildlife on WMA

concentrate wildlife for hunting, photography, viewing5) Aid in grassland management

firebreaks6) Reproductive habitat

nesting for waterfowl, gamebirds, and songbirds

Food plots are very popular with many hunters

Food plots are also well liked by some wildlife

STATUTORY LANGUAGE

Subd. 8.State wildlife management area; purpose; resource and site qualifications; administration.(a) A state wildlife management area shall be established to protect those lands and waters which have a high potential for wildlife production and to develop and manage these lands and waters for the production of wildlife

Current Food Plot Practices

DNR Division of Wildlife manages 1715 WMA Units1,330,520 acres 33,280 acres in food plots2.5% of area

What are we growingcorn, soybeans, wheat primarilyIn MN, 93% and 95% of corn and beans are GMO

Focal species pheasants, deer, turkey, waterfowl, elkrecognize benefits to non-game species

Planting MethodsDNR staffCFA – local producers plant food plots

as payment, they harvest 2/3 to ¾ of plot

Region CFA (acres /plots) Food Development1 (Northwest) 18408 (123) 621 (62)2 (Northeast) 399 (10) 0 (0)3 (Central) 4230 (77) 244 (53)4 (Southern) 8529 (517) 849 (90)TOTALS 31566 (727) 1714 (205)GRAND TOTAL 33280 (932)

Site Selection and Planning / Criteria for Food Plots

Look at WMA as well as surrounding lands

Is a food plot needed? To meet which objective(s)?

Where should they be within the WMA?

How large/small should they be? use some calculations in combination with field observations

North Heron WMANorth Marsh MWA

Windom Work Area

Food Plot Review and Planning

Last week, DNR Commissioner signed Op Order 135 - CFAs

Area managers will review 30% of food plots annually on rotational basis

At the same time, will review objectives for each plot and determine if they are being met

Results may include:1) Restoring some food plots to native vegetation2) Shrinking some food plots3) Expanding or adding food plots4) Moving the food plot within the WMA

Any newly established food plots will use these same criteria and have measurable objectives

PROPOSING

Phase out neonic or other insecticides (in line with USFWS and DNR FOR)

GMOs – reviewing EPA documentsUSFWS and DNR For guidelines

Soil Healthcover cropping no-till or most conservative conservation tillage methods

Fertilizerswhat type, how much healthy soils should eliminate much of the need for chem fertilizers

COVER CROPPING AND SOIL HEALTH

2015 year of soil – a good time to start this process

Well outside the comfort zone for wildliferslot of reading and talking to a lot of people

Cover crops

to date, always discussed in an agronomy contexthow can we translate that to our wildlife goals?

Agronomy1. Keep the soil covered as much as possible 2. Disturb the soil as little as possible 3. Keep plants growing throughout the year to feed the soil 4. Diversify as much as possible using crop rotation and cover crops

Wildlifespecies that build soil health (soil carbon, microbial diversity, etc)provide pollinator resource (flowers and flower phenology)provide food resources for wildlife (fruit and seed)don’t become invasive

We will have no conservation worthy of the name until food and cover for wildlife is deliberately instead of accidentally provided for.

QUESTIONS?