Download Buffers provide food, space for wildlife

30
Land and Farm Management
www.FarmProgress.com ◆ March 2013
Buffers provide food,
space for wildlife
By SPENSER BRADLEY
Mid-South Farmer
CREATE WILDLIFE
HABITAT: Installing
a buffer on the edge
of a field will attract
wildlife.
Key Points
ANDOWNERS often ask Extension
agents what they can do to improve
their property for deer, turkey, quail
or rabbits. On land where the main objective is agriculture production, establishing
field buffers along the edges of crop fields
or pastures is a great way to create habitat
for wildlife, while minimally impacting production.
Field buffers are managed strips of permanent cover, usually a mixture of grasses,
forbs and shrubs, established around
the borders of a production field. These
areas create an “edge” where two or more
different plant communities meet. They
provide food, cover and space for game
species such as quail, along with a wide
variety of songbirds.
Field buffers can be anywhere from 30
to 120 feet wide, with wider buffers generally being better for wildlife. These field
buffers can be either planted with native
grasses, or simply taken out of production and allowed to naturally regenerate
from seeds already in the soil. Planting
native grasses is the preferred option as
most species of wildlife are adapted to
these plants. In some instances, it may
be necessary to first eliminate non-native
invasive plants, such as tall fescue and
L
■ On farmland, field buffers are a great
way to encourage wildlife.
■ Use a mixture of grasses, forbs and
shrubs around the borders.
■ “Crop the best and buffer the rest!”
Bradley says.
orchardgrass, which provide little benefit
to wildlife. After the invasive plants are
eradicated, disking the buffers in winter
will help the seedbed germinate and the
area can be allowed to grow fallow.
Prescribed burning of sections of field
buffers once every two to three years will
maintain wildlife-beneficial plants such
as native grasses, beggar’s-lice and pokeweed. There are numerous field buffer
practices through farm bill conservation
programs such as the Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program, the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program and the
Conservation Reserve Program. Contact
your county USDA Service Center to learn
more about which buffer practices may be
available to you on your farm.
After field buffers become established,
wildlife will not be far behind. Deer and
rabbits will browse on soft, green plants
and fruit such as blackberries, while quail
and turkeys will feed on seeds and insects.
Field buffers composed of native grasses
provide an especially valuable source of
cover for many birds, especially during the
winter. During the spring and summer, they
make great fawning cover, and excellent
nesting and brooding cover for numerous
game and non-game birds.
Landowners may be concerned about
the loss of crop yield that can occur with
the establishment of field buffers. It is best
to create field buffers in low-yield areas
such as along shaded forest edges and corners and in areas with poor soil. In other
words, crop the best and buffer the rest.
Allowing these areas to grow fallow will
reduce fuel, fertilizer, lime and seed costs.
Deer depredation of crops may also be reduced, as they will have more natural food
sources and will not rely as heavily on row
crops for food. The increased wildlife populations will also bring an intrinsic value
to your property and increase hunting opportunities.
Field buffers are one of the best ways to
create habitat for wildlife on agricultural
land while minimally impacting production. They create food and cover for numerous species, and if placed correctly,
yield loss will be minimal.
Bradley is a regional Extension agent for
the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
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