United States Department of Agriculture

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**Indiana - August 2008** (ver. 1.0)

**Conservation Program Job Sheet**

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) policy requires newly enrolled
participants, starting with Signup 26, to do some type of "disturbance"
to certain CRP practices during the life of the contract to benefit
wildlife. This job sheet describes that guidance in more detail.

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Normally, mid-contract management activities are conducted between the
4^th^ and 7^th^ year of the contract. However, on land with existing
cover, disturbance activities can begin as soon as technically feasible.

**STRIP SPRAYING**

Once established, grassland fields need to be managed so that grasses do
not crowd out the forbs and/or legumes over time. In the absence of
disturbance, the composition of grassland communities will change over
several years through normal plant succession. The vegetative structure
changes as annual forbs and legumes are replaced by perennial forbs,
grasses, and eventually, woody plants. Changes also occur structurally,
as bare ground declines, litter accumulates, and vegetation density
increases. These changes lead to a decline in wildlife benefits.

The purpose of mid-contract management activities is to enhance the
wildlife habitat value of the enrolled acres by increasing the amount of
bare soil and by encouraging a diverse forb/legume community. Forbs (any
broadleaf plant) and legumes in grasslands are beneficial to birds,
insects such as butterflies, and other wildlife. Strip spraying is an
effective management tool that can be utilized where vegetation has
become too thick to benefit the target species.

Spraying is especially helpful for maintaining brood-rearing habitat for
bobwhite quail, wild turkey, ring-necked pheasant and other early
successional grassland wildlife species. The insects associated with
annual weed communities provide critical nutrients, including protein,
and essential amino acids for growing nestlings and chicks. Reduced
plant residue, along with bare ground, are also critical for young chick
mobility in grassland areas. The structural diversity that results from
spraying also improves habitat for a variety of grassland songbirds,
including dickcissels, bobolinks and savannah sparrows. Many of these
species have experienced population declines over the last several
decades. Spraying enhances habitat quality because it inhibits woody
growth, promotes favored seed producing plants, reduces plant residue,
increases bare ground, and increases insect abundance.

The goal of the herbicide application should be to kill approximately
50% of the perennial grasses within the treatment area. Consult with
your local dealer, or Cooperative Extension Specialist, for specific
herbicides that are recommended for your area. Note that the type of
chemical, and spray timing, varies between warm season and cool season
grasses.

**SPECIFICATIONS**

The following are specifications for Strip Spraying on CRP acreage:

-   NRCS eFOTG Standard *Early Successional Habitat
    Development/Management* (647) will be utilized for this practice.

-   Grassland fields must be established for a minimum of three years
    before initiating strip spraying, and strips will not be sprayed
    more than once in a two-year period.

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-   The following chart shows the [maximum]{.underline} area that can be
    disturbed during any year (unless a waiver is received from the Farm
    Services Agency):

+--------------------------+------------------+-----------------------+
|                          | **CP33**         | **All other CP        |
|                          |                  | practices**           |
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------------------+
| **Greater than 1.5       | 1/3 of the area  | 1/3 of the area       |
| acres**                  |                  |                       |
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------------------+
| **1.5 acres or less**    | ½ of the area    | ½ of the area         |
|                          |                  | [or]{.underline}      |
|                          |                  |                       |
|                          |                  | the total area        |
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------------------+

-   Strip spraying will be avoided on environmentally sensitive areas
    including:

1.  Concentrated flow areas

2.  Critical areas

3.  Within the first 20 feet of a practice that borders a water resource
    to avoid water quality resource concerns

4.  Other areas where gully erosion is likely

-   Environmentally Sensitive Areas will be marked on the plan map to
    ensure Mid Contract Management activities are avoided on these
    areas.

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-   Sprayed fieldstrips will be a maximum of 50 feet wide. Alternate the
    sprayed strips with unsprayed strips 2-4 times the width of the
    disturbed areas. Duplicate this pattern across the field.

-   Spraying of grassed waterways, riparian forest buffers, or areas
    planted to trees and/or shrubs is not allowed.

-   Spraying operations will [not]{.underline} be performed from
    **[April 1 through August 1]{.underline}**, the primary nesting
    period for grassland bird species. It is also recommended, but is
    not required, to delay spraying until after August 15 to reduce the
    chance of harming fledgling birds and other young wildlife.

-   Designated filter strips will be left adjacent to all water bodies
    to maintain water quality. See NRCS Field Office Technical Guide
    (FOTG) Standard 393 - *Filter Strip* for additional guidance.

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-   Strip spraying operations will be performed along field contours, or
    across the slope, when practical.

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-   Erosion from sprayed strips will not exceed tolerable limits.

-   Strips will parallel brushy or woody escape cover when feasible.

-   All Federal, State and Local guidelines and Manufacturer's label
    rates will be followed when applying herbicides.

**CONSIDERATIONS**

-   Strip spraying should be planned for the least erosive parts of
    fields and not in places where gully formation is a problem.
    CAUTION: Spraying in the late fall on highly erosive sites may cause
    erosion to occur over the winter months. Consider drilling ½ bushel
    of winter wheat per acre, between September 15 and October 30, to
    reduce erosion potential.

-   Consider seeding a mixture of forbs and legumes into areas that have
    been strip sprayed. See NRCS CRP Job Sheet *Mid-Contract Management:
    Inter-seeding* for additional guidance.

-   Consider the habitat needs of the target wildlife species. Areas
    sprayed in late summer or early fall will tend to stimulate the
    production of hard-seeded plants such as common ragweed. These
    species provide excellent brood-rearing cover and winter food for
    quail and pheasants.

**CONSIDERATIONS** (continued)

-   In fields with heavy cover, consider connecting sprayed areas to
    improve brood movement.

-   Spraying in low, wet areas currently dominated by sedges should be
    avoided because these areas often add additional plant diversity to
    the site.

-   Where the existing vegetation is extremely thick, tall, or rank,
    consider first using prescribed burns or mowing, on those areas
    where spraying will be preformed.

-   Consider raking the thatch after any mowing operations, and prior to
    herbicide application, to increase the germination of forbs in the
    seed bank. NOTE: Thatch [will not]{.underline} be removed from the
    field.

-   Landowners should be wary of tile blowholes, groundhog holes, fallen
    tree limbs, and other hazards that may have developed since they
    were last in the field.

-   After completion of the strip spraying, consider planting wheat at a
    rate of one (1) bushel per acre. In addition to adding food and
    habitat structure, wheat may suppress grass growth and increase
    forbs resulting in longer-term wildlife benefits.

**EXAMPLE: 3-Year Rotation**

Divide the field into adjacent plots that are 90 to 150 feet wide.
Within each plot, mark three strips of land that are 30 to 50 feet wide.

1.  In fall of the [first year]{.underline} of disturbance, within each
    plot, spray the first strip of land and leave the second and third
    strip unsprayed.

2.  In fall of the [second year]{.underline}, spray the second strip,
    leaving the first (sprayed during previous year) and third strip
    unsprayed.

3.  In fall of the [third year]{.underline}, spray the third strip
    leaving the first and second strips unsprayed.

4.  In the [fourth year]{.underline}, begin the rotation again, as
    indicated in the conservation plan.

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**Strip Spraying - Specifications Sheet**

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  **Landowner:**               **     **                                                 **County:**   **     **               

  **F****arm:**    **     **   **Tract:**           **Field(s):**           **Acres:**                             **Date:**        

  CONCURRENCE OF                                                                                                               
  IDNR DISTRICT                                                                                                                
  BIOLOGIST                                                                                                                    
  (recommended):                                                                                                               
  ---------------- ----------- ------------ ------- --------------- ------- ------------ ------------- ----------- ----------- -------

**[Specific Recommendations]{.underline}**

Wildlife species to be benefited:      

Date range (i.e. spraying window):      

Preparations needed before spraying:      

Additional Considerations:      

**Site/Sketch Map**

**(Include environmentally sensitive areas to be avoided)**

***Helping People Help the Land***

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