Summer 2020 PHEASANTS FOREVER MN FARM BILL BIOLOGIST PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTER
Updates From the Field:
Morrison County - A 441.3-acre property was recently con- verted to perpetual easement held by the Board of Water and Soil Resources, funded through the Department of Defense, and administered by Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District. The completion of this voluntary easement was made possible through the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) pro- gram. The program is designed to help minimize development around Camp Ripley National Guard and allows troops to con- tinue to train without development encroaching.
This easement is a working lands easement meaning the iden- tified cropland can continue to be farmed. However, conver- sion of trees and prairie to cropland is prohibited. Forest man- agement is allowed with an approved forest management plan. The easement consists of approximately 263.0 acres of mature woods/shrubs, 64.0 acres of cropland, 7.0 acres of open prairie grasslands, 3.9 acres of food plots and 103.4 acres of wetlands. This property is adjacent to other conserva- tion easements, helping to create 1,153.2 contiguous acres wildlife habitat complex that will remain in perpetuity. This easement was made possible through the help of PF Farm Bill Biologist Amy Heinen.
Pictured: MN NRCS State Con Troy Daniell and PF FBB Amy Heinen In addition to securing this large easement, Morrison SWCD/ NRCS had the opportunity this summer to host MN NRCS State “This was exactly what we were hoping this posi- Conservationist Troy Daniell at their office. He was able to tion would offer– support, training and capacity meet Amy and discuss all the great work being done through for delivering NRCS and District programs.” the shared partnerships with Pheasants Forever. - Shannon Wettstein, Morrison SWCD District Manager.
Page 1
Farm Bill Biologist Newsletter - Summer 2020 Pictures From the Field
Farm Bill Biologists have been busy in the field this summer working with farmers and landowners in meeting their voluntary conservation goals. In addition to working with partners; the biologists have been in the field checking on past projects, walking future project sites with landowners, seeing first hand construction/management and taking in all of the site and sounds of our great natural resources in MN. Enjoy some photos captured by FBB’s this summer!
Page 2
Farm Bill Biologist Newsletter - Summer 2020 From the Field
Page 3
Farm Bill Biologist Newsletter - Summer 2020 From the Field
Page 4
Farm Bill Biologist Newsletter - Summer 2020 From the Field
Page 5
Farm Bill Biologist Newsletter - Summer 2020 Soil Health & Habitat Program Funded by:
Pheasants Forever announced a 60-day application period for farmers and ranchers to enroll in the organization’s Soil Health and Habitat Program, funded by pet care leader Purina. Utilizing precision agriculture technology, Pheasants Forever will work with producers and growers to analyze data using Truterra™ Insights Engine from 30,000 acres of private lands in the Prairie Pothole Region to help enhance soil health, protect water quality and implement conservation planning for 7,200 acres. Results from the analysis will help guide enrollment of low-production acres into the program, providing those landowners a one-time incentive payment for grassland and cover crop mixtures. June 30 marked the end of the first signup for the Soil Health and Habitat Program. In total over 50 landowners applied, with 17 of those applications coming from MN. We are excited as we move forward working with the selected applicants based on rank- ing criteria. Pheasants Forever would like to thank those partners that helped spread the word to farmers and helped make the first sign-up successful. Be on the lookout for additional sign-ups and opportunity for farmers to apply.
Page 6
Farm Bill Biologist Newsletter - Summer 2020 Plant Profile - Culver’s Root
Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) is a common perennial prairie plant species in the Plantain family, Plantaginaceae. This wildflower is one of only two members of the genus and is the only member native to North America. It is found exclusively throughout the eastern United States and Canada, especially within the prairie states, including the majority of Minnesota.
The genus, Veronicastrum, describes the combination of Veroni- ca and the suffix astrum, which means false, referring to the re- semblance to Veronica or Speedwell species. The plant’s com- mon name also gives homage to an eighteenth-century physi- cian and herbalist who advocated the medicinal properties of the plant, specifically a remedy produced from the roots to treat tuberculosis and a tonic to serve as a laxative and emetic. Similarly, Native American tribes, such as the Seneca and the Menominee, also prepared extracts and tinctures to use as a laxative, to induce vomiting and to purify the blood, as well as for spiritual cleansing rituals. The Cherokee used it to produce a tea to alleviate typhus, fever and chronic pain.
This early-summer bloomer prefers full sun ex- posure and is well-adapted to open wood- lands, mesic meadows and native tallgrass prairies. Culver’s root is a tall-growing species, often reaching five to six feet in height. The herbaceous stem is stiff, smooth and round. The leaves are dark green, oblong and ovate, with serrated teeth that grow whorled along the stem. The pinnacle of the plant adorns the slender inflorescence of individual tubular flowers that grows into dense cluster of spikes, often in the shape of a candelabrum, which can reach a length of eight inches long, and vary in vibrant white, pink, purple, lavender and indigo hues. These flowers will often persist from July to September, depending on the ecoregion, and bloom from top to bottom. The root system consists of a long taproot and running rhizomes.
Page 7
Farm Bill Biologist Newsletter - Summer 2020 Plant Profile cont. - Culver’s Root
This plant species is pollinated by a variety of insects, including long and short-tongued bees, honeybees, bumblebees, mason bees, green metallic bees and masked bees. Many species of moths and butterflies also regularly visit the flowers, as well as sphecid wasps, syrphid flies and even hummingbirds. Culver’s root also serves as a host plant for the larvae of the Culver’s root borer moth, Papaipema sciata. This species of concern lays its eggs below the soil within the root system where the larva eventually hatches and feeds, thus causing the plant to stress and wilt. The final instar leaves the root mass and pupates on the soil surface. This insect species is sensitive to fire disturbance; there- fore, it is important to leave refugia when implementing a prescribed burn.
Culver’s root is resilient, deer resistant and fire adapted. It grows well within various soil types but does prefer well-drained substrata. Under ideal conditions, germination percentages are high, and the seedlings are easily transplanted by midsummer. Propagation of this species is said to be quite simple, since the seeds are produced in abundance. It does not become aggressive, invasive or problematic. Overall, this native prairie plant provides ample foraging and sheltering opportunities for a wide variety of wildlife species and it compliments an array of other species of native grasses and perennial wildflowers. * Article by Eric Ressel, MN FBB Farm Bill Biologist Quarterly Highlights: April 2020 - July 2020
Landowner Contacts Over 1,300 Contacts
Total Impacted Acres Over 21,000 Acres (Contracts, Monitoring, Etc.)
Page 8
Farm Bill Biologist Newsletter - Summer 2020 Contact a PF Biologist Near You:
Kayla Blocker - McLeod County - (515) 320-4007, [email protected]
Megan Brown- Pine County - (715) 529-5221, [email protected] “A land ethic, then, reflects Jill Fejszes - Marshall, West Polk, Pennington Counties - (218) 280-5978, [email protected] the existence of Jacob Granfors - Aitkin, Carlton Counties - (218) 434-0929, [email protected] an ecological conscience, and Amy Heinen - Morrison County - (320) 293-3178, [email protected] this in turn Megan Howell - Murray County - (641) 860-0890, [email protected] reflects a conviction of Kasey Jenc- Douglas County - (320) 333-8696, [email protected] individual Gemma Kleinschmidt - Swift County - (701) 215-8386, [email protected] responsibility for the health of Jacob Nelson - West Otter Tail County - (218) 234-8487, [email protected] the land. Health Tony Nelson - Clay County - (218) 791-6714, [email protected] is the capacity Lyon County - (636) 358-6578, [email protected] of the land for Mark Peper - self-renewal. Josh Pommier - Meeker County - (320) 292-5860, [email protected] Conservation is Jeff Potts - Blue Earth County - (507) 508-0615, [email protected] our effort to understand and Sara Reagan - Lac qui Parle County - (507) 829-0778, [email protected] preserve this Eric Ressel - Houston County - (262) 339-7586, [email protected] capacity.” - Aldo Leopold Carrie Schultz- Watonwan County - (320) 469-3795, [email protected]
Luke Thoma - Todd County - (320) 232-7079, [email protected]
Aaron Wilson - Kandiyohi County - (612) 296-3226, [email protected]
Luke Zilverberg- Brown County - (612) 865-9980, [email protected]
BJ Werk - Precision Ag & Conservation Specialist - (701) 238-6504, [email protected]
About The Farm Bill Biologist (FBB) Position: Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists are staff who specialize in conservation programs and habitat planning and work with landowners who are interested in voluntary conservation programs. These positions are made possible due to the support of the following partners and the Farm Bill Assistance Partnership (FBAP) :
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR), Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) and local Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Chapters.
Page 9