Planning Ahead for Wildlife Survival

Planning Ahead For Wildlife Survival should include all aspects of wildlife habitat management. The two factors which limit upland wildlife numbers on most Missouri farms are food and cover. When these are provided in close association, wildlife will benefit directly. Numbers of songbirds, quail, and rabbit will increase over a period of time, because more breeders will survive the harsh winter months.

High quality food can be provided by planting small grains in properly located food plots. Adequate cover can be provided with some additional labor and planning.

Wildlife depend on native weed-seeds and fruits of shrubs for food. When ice and snow cover these seeds during late winter, farm wildlife will then rely on this standing grain for survival.

HOW MANY FOOD PLOTS ARE NEEDED? As a rule, one food plot for every forty acres of farm land would be a minimum. On farms where cultivated crops are grown, fewer food plots would be necessary if crop residue and some grain is left standing. More food plots would be required on a pasture farm where no grain is grown, however.

LOCATION AND PROTECTION: Livestock must be excluded if the food plot is to be of any value to wildlife. (Caution: After frost or drought, some plants in the mixture are poisonous to livestock). If an ungrazed area is not available, locate the patch so that it can be fenced with minimum expense.

The food plots must be located where wildlife using it will have escape cover close by. Good locations will be next to brushy draws, corners of shrubby fence rows, edges of wooded areas, odd areas not used for agricultural purposes, and along travel lanes large enough to afford cover. Heavy cover, such as brush piles, can be added next to the fenced-in area. There should be around six brush piles of at least fifteen feet in diameter per quarter acre plot.

SIZE OF THE FOOD PLOT: The minimum size is one-fourth acre. Anything less than this will not provide enough grain for the long winter months.

Ideally, a one-half acre area is set aside for the food plot. Each year, plant half of this (one-fourth acre). The following year, plant the other half and allow the first half to grow annual weeds. This rotation will provide native seeds, bare ground for dusting, standing grain for food, and make better use of the fertilizer.

The following measurements will aid in laying out the quarter-acre plot. (Double one figure for roughly one-half acre).

WIDTH LENGTH (Feet)

20 x 550

30 x 365

40 x 275

50 x 220

75 x 150

105 x 105

NOTE: For field corner plot, measure along each axis 150 feet and connect the two points.

The shape of the plot is not important. An irregular shape with "islands" of cover is excellent.

SEED MIXTURE: A mixture of grain will provide desirable plant diversity, but competition may reduce the total seed production. If only one grain is to be planted, milo will give the best results. Four pounds of milo per quarter acre plot should be sufficient.

The seed mixture proved most suitable statewide, is:

Milo 2 lbs.

Soybeans (Clark) 2 lbs.

German Millet 1 lb.

Over-seeding will increase competition between plants and cause "damp-off" of the milo. The result of sowing too much will be a reduction in the amount of grain at maturity.

FERTILIZER, LIME, SEEDBED, AND PLANTING TIME: To determine the exact nutrient requirements, a soil sample can be analyzed by the local M.U. Extension Center. The results will show the amount of lime and fertilizer required for good seed production.

Liming is very important. Milo grows best in a soil pH of 6 to 6.5. If the soil test shows a pH of around 5, for example, the quarter acre plot will require approximately one ton of crushed limestone. Should the pH be near 6, only 500 lbs. of limestone would have to be added. Crushed limestone is usually available in bag form through the local seed dealer.

High fertility is the key to abundant and nutritious food for wildlife. The one-quarter plot should be treated with at least 100 pounds of 12-12-12 fertilizer before seeding. An additional 50 pounds of ammonium nitrate (33-0-0) should be applied to insure good seed production.

An alternative would be to apply 200 pounds of 12-12-12 in one application. This amount will nearly equal the nitrogen used, but will more than replace the phosphorous and potassium used by the grain crop. (These are general recommendations when soil test results are not available).

The fertilizer and lime should be plowed under and disked as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring (usually the last week in April). This will kill all grasses that would choke-out the desired plants.

After these important steps are complete, then broadcast the seed mixture and cover lightly. (The seed can be covered by dragging a large shrub or cedar tree over the plot behind a tractor).

Planting time for most of Missouri will be between May 10 and June 20.

Remember, the objective of an annual food plot is to supply emergency food next to heavy cover for use when native foods are covered by ice and snow. The food plot will not supply enough feed if other native seed producing plants are in short supply. The annual food plot is just one important "tool" in an over-all wildlife habitat management program. If stable populations of wildlife are desired, the only sound approach will be a planned habitat management program, that is applied over a long period of time.

PLANT ANNUAL FOOD PLOTS

PLANNING AHEAD FOR WILDLIFE SURVIVAL