Food Plots on MN DNR Lands Greg Hoch

Food Plots on MN DNR Lands Greg Hoch Prairie Habitat Team Supervisor “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)

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 years pollinator 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) 2) 3) 4) Provide nutrition Keep wildlife near cover Reduce depredations on surrounding ag land Provide recreation Tranel, Bailey and Haroldson (2008) 7 function of food plots on DNR lands 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Provide winter food Providing food and loafing areas for migrants Depredation abatements Holding wildlife on public and for hunting or viewing Grassland management Reproductive habitat

1) Provide winter food for resident wildlife (pheasant, turkey, deer, elk) maintain healthy body condition through the winter enhance 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 land 4) Hold wildlife on WMA concentrate wildlife for hunting, photography, viewing 5) Aid in grassland management firebreaks 6) 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 Units 1, 330, 520 acres 33, 280 acres in food plots 2. 5% of area What are we growing corn, soybeans, wheat primarily In MN, 93% and 95% of corn and beans are GMO Focal species pheasants, deer, turkey, waterfowl, elk recognize benefits to non-game species Planting Methods DNR staff CFA – local producers plant food plots as payment, they harvest 2/3 to ¾ of plot

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 WMA North 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 vegetation 2) Shrinking some food plots 3) Expanding or adding food plots 4) 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 documents USFWS and DNR For guidelines Soil Health cover cropping no-till or most conservative conservation tillage methods Fertilizers what 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 wildlifers lot of reading and talking to a lot of people

Cover crops to date, always discussed in an agronomy context how can we translate that to our wildlife goals? Agronomy 1. 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 Wildlife species 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?