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| United States Department of Agriculture                               |
|                                                                       |
| ![](media/image1.png){width="2.9451388888888888in"                    |
| height="0.45069444444444445in"}                                       |
|                                                                       |
| **Indiana - October 2007 (ver. 1.0)**                                 |
+=======================================================================+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

**Prairies and Wet Meadows**

<table style="width:100%;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 5%" />
<col style="width: 5%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 16%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="2"><strong>Landowner:</strong></td>
<td colspan="7"><strong>     </strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>County:</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>     </strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><strong>Farm:</strong></td>
<td>     </td>
<td><strong>Tract:</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td><strong>Field(s):</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td><strong>Acres:</strong></td>
<td colspan="3"><p>Upland Grasses:      </p>
<p>Depressions:      </p>
<p>Firebreak:      </p></td>
<td><strong>Date:</strong>      </td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="4"><strong>Soil Type(s):</strong></td>
<td colspan="3"><strong>     </strong></td>
<td colspan="3"><strong>Soil Drainage Class:</strong></td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<table style="width:100%;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 17%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 7%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 16%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="12"><strong>Recommended Species and Seeding Rates - All
rates are in Pure Live Seed (PLS)</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="12"><p> <strong>Existing species diversity is sufficient to
naturally re-colonize the site after sufficient site preparation.
     </strong></p>
<p><strong>NOTE: Indiana Crop Improvement Association Yellow Tag seed
should be used.</strong></p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="5"><strong>Seed Required from the Prairie Grass Seed Mix
No.</strong> </td>
<td colspan="7"><strong>Seed from the Composite List (Min. 5
species)</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="2"><strong>GRASS SPECIES</strong></td>
<td><p>Rate</p>
<p>Units/acre</p></td>
<td><strong>Units</strong></td>
<td><p>Total =</p>
<p>(Rate X Acres)</p></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>Composite Forb Species</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><p>Rate</p>
<p>Units/acre</p></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>Units</strong></td>
<td><p>Total =</p>
<p>(Rate X Acres)</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="5"><strong>GRASS SPECIES (Depressions only)</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td>plants</td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td>plants</td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="5"><strong>Seed from the Legume List (Min. 1
species)</strong></td>
<td colspan="7"><strong>Seed or Plants from Other Species List (Min. 2
species)</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td>     </td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">      </td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td><strong>0.00</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td rowspan="4"> <strong>Firebreaks:</strong></td>
<td colspan="5">Firebreak Species</td>
<td colspan="2"><p>Rate</p>
<p>Lb./acre</p></td>
<td colspan="4"><p>Total =</p>
<p><strong>(Rate X Acres)</strong></p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>Lbs.</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td colspan="2">     </td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>0.00</strong></td>
<td colspan="2">Lbs.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="11"><p> Establish a Bare-Ground Firebreak by disking the
Fall &amp; Spring prior to Prescribed Burning</p>
<p>Disked areas will be re-seeded after each Prescribed Burn</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="12">NOTES:      </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

  --------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------------------------------- ------------------
  **Site                                                                                  
  Preparation -                                                                           
  BEFORE Planting                                                                         
  in Year:**                                                                              

  **Herbicide                                                                             **Dates:      **
  (per label):**                                                                          

  **Herbicide                                                                             **Dates:      **
  (per label):**                                                                          

  **Herbicide                                                                             **Dates:      **
  (per label):**                                                                          

  **Tillage:**                **     **                                                   

  **Prescribed                            **     **                                       
  Burning:**                                                                              

  **Temporary                                                                             
  Seeding:**                                                                              

  **Existing                                                                              
  Woody                                                                                   
  Vegetation will                                                                         
  be removed:                                                                             
       **                                                                                 

  **Other:**      **     **                                                               

  NOTES:                                                                                  
  --------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------------------------------- ------------------

  ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------------------
  **Planting Year:**                          

  **Planting Method                           **Date:**
  (Grasses):**                                

  **Planting Method                           **Date:**
  (Firebreak):**                              

  **If unforeseen                             
  circumstances prohibit                      
  planting by this date,                      
  please contact the local                    
  NRCS office as soon as                      
  possible.**                                 
  ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------------------

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Post-Planting Maintenance**                                         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Mowing:** During the establishment period (maximum 3 years after    |
| planting), mow to a minimum height of six (6) to eight (8) inches     |
| high when the weeds are 12 inches taller than the planted grasses     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Herbicide\*** **(per label)**: **     **                            |
|                                                                       |
| Herbicides must be labeled for the specific wildflowers in the        |
| planting.                                                             |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Other: **     **                                                      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| > **\*NOTE: after establishment period (maximum 3 years after         |
| > planting), MOWING and other activities will not occur between April |
| > 1 to August 1, and will occur on a "spot" basis only, unless prior  |
| > approval is granted by NRCS.**                                      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- --------------------
  **Disturbance                                         
  Management                                            
  Starting In                                           
  Year:**                                               

  **Prescribed      **Strip           **Strip Disking** **Inter-seeding**
  Burning**         Spraying**                          
  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- --------------------

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **The specific disturbance activity can be decided by the participant |
| in the scheduled year**                                               |
|                                                                       |
| **based on condition of the vegetation, site considerations,          |
| capabilities of the participant, etc.**                               |
|                                                                       |
| Treatment should not occur more than once every 3 years on the same   |
| acreage.                                                              |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **For Disturbance (a.k.a. Mid-contract) Management job sheets see:
  <http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CRP/crphomepage.html>**

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Additional Information**

  **     **
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

SITE PREPARATION AND WEED CONTROL

Successful site preparation should begin the fall before seeding.
Existing cover must be eliminated by spraying or tilling. Perform weed
control again in the spring prior to planting to increase the likelihood
of a successful planting. [Some common herbicides used on cropland may
also impact the success of establishing wildflowers]{.underline}. Notify
NRCS if a local consultant or Purdue Extension Specialist recommends
that plantings should be delayed to avoid any negative impacts from
residual herbicides.

**PLANTING**

**Selection of Plant Materials**

Seed that is source identified by the Indiana Crop Improvement
Association through the Yellow Tag certification program or equivalent
shall be used.

**Seeding Dates:**

  ---------------------------- ------------------ -----------------------
  **Species/Mix**              **IN Seeding       **Dormant Seeding
                               Dates**            Dates\***

  Native Grasses, Legumes &    4/1-6/15           12/1-4/1
  Forbs                                           

  Cool Season Grasses          3/1-5/15 or        12/1-3/1
  (Firebreak)                  8/1-9/15           
  ---------------------------- ------------------ -----------------------

**\*** Increase seeding rates by 25% when dormant seeding (grasses
only). Broadcast seeding should only be done into a prepared seedbed
with protection from erosion as a consideration

**Lime and Fertilizer:** Land with a recent cropping history (within the
last 2 years) will normally have adequate nutrient and pH levels to
establish and support most plantings. Lime and fertilizer should be
applied at establishment when a current soil test (less than four years
old) shows phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are in the low to very low
range or the pH is 6.0 or less. Apply only enough P and K to raise
fertility to a level needed for a 1 ton/ac forage yield goal. Apply one
ton of lime per acre if the pH is less than 6.0. [Do not apply any
nitrogen (N) during establishment.]{.underline} Apply all soil
amendments prior to seedbed preparation during the fall, or before
planting if a no-till drill is used.

**No-till Seeding:** Ensure the drill is designed to handle the seed
being planted (especially important for native grasses and wildflowers).
Many Quail Unlimited and Pheasants Forever chapters, as well as local
Soil and Water Conservation Districts, have native grass drills
available. Set the drill to provide an ideal planting depth of 1/8 --
1/4 inch unless otherwise directed. Seeding deeper than 1/4 inch will
lead to potential failure. Soils that are too wet or too dry can also
cause improper seed placement.

**Broadcast Seeding:** Seed may be broadcast using a broadcast seeder if
capable of spreading seed in a uniform manner. Pre-mixing the seed with
200 lbs. per acre of pelletized lime and utilizing an airflow applicator
is also effective. Seedbeds should be worked to a minimum depth of three
(3) inches and firmed before seeding. The seedbed should be culti-packed
[before]{.underline} and [after]{.underline} seeding. It is acceptable
to see up to 1/3 of the seed on the soil surface. Wind speed should be
15 m.p.h. or less when broadcasting.

**Weed Control During Establishment Period:** Mowing should be used to
control unwanted vegetation [until]{.underline} a final desired
vegetation is established. Mow when competing weeds are taller than the
planted vegetation, and at a height above the planted vegetation.
Planted grasses and wildflowers should not be mowed lower than six (6)
inches to ensure plant health. Most herbicides may damage the
wildflowers, and are therefore not recommended for these plantings.

**Use of Herbicides:**

Follow all federal, state, and local guidelines as well as the
manufacturer\'s label rates and guidelines when applying non-selective
herbicides.

Work with a local consultant or Purdue Extension Specialist to determine
the best herbicide combination.

DISTURBANCE Management

It is important to schedule disturbance activities on grassland areas to
ensure plant diversity, wildlife habitat, and protection of soil and
water resources. Management activities that will ensure these benefits
include prescribed burning (according to an approved burn plan), strip
disking, strip spraying, and inter-seeding of legumes. All management
activities should be performed according to NRCS Standards and
Specifications as found in the eFOTG.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Maintenance activities are allowed only if necessary to maintain stand
health or diversity, or to control pests that may damage the cover or
adjacent lands. Noxious weeds, such as Canada thistle and Johnsongrass,
must be controlled.

**Mowing for generic weed control or for cosmetic purposes should be
avoided.**

Maintenance activities should not occur from **[April 1 through August
1]{.underline}** to protect ground-nesting wildlife. Maintenance
activities will be conducted on **[a "spot" basis only]{.underline}**.

Exclude all wildlife areas from haying and grazing unless specified in
your plan. Fences may need to be constructed and maintained to exclude
livestock throughout the entire year.

Wildlife areas should not be used for field roads or other uses that
will damage or destroy the cover.