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Conservation Partners |
Memo To: Arkansas Conservation
Districts I just wanted to drop you a note to share with you some of the exciting things our friends at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are planning with ranchers, farmers, and other landowners through their private lands initiative, made possible through the conservation sale tax. The Commission recently approved the purchase of five (5) Native Warm Season Grass Planters to be placed strategically over the state for use by private landowners. Three planters will be located across the Northern part of the state and two will be located across the Southern portion. These planters will be small enough to pull behind a pickup so landowners can pick one up and take it to their farms for planting these grasses. AGFC will be purchasing high quality planters, which will allow the proper planting of these great forage plants which provide numerous wildlife benefits as well. All the details have not been worked out as of yet. AGFC hopes to develop a check-out system whereby farmers/landowners can schedule the use of a planter. They have talked about requiring some small per acre use-fee to help cover the cost of maintenance but will be staffing that in the coming weeks. Fred Ward, Acres for Wildlife Coordinator (and Small Game Team Leader) located at the Calico Rock office will be directing the placement and procedures for these pieces of equipment. If you have any comments or suggestions to assist him in this process, I am sure he would welcome your input. He can be reached toll-free at 877-297-4331. David Long with AGFC asked me to remind you that AGFC desires to partner with all agencies and groups in the state to better educate farm producers, ranchers and landowners regarding better ways of doing business which will benefit their operations, fish and wildlife populations, and the environment in general. In this case, AGFC is providing the tools to accomplish this objective. NWSGs provide an alternative to traditional introduced pasture grasses which can, with proper management, increase the landowners bottom-line and provide benefits to wildlife such as quail, rabbits, turkey, and a host of ground nesting songbirds. As most of you know, endophyte infected fescue causes all kinds of health problems for livestock and wildlife, and there continues to be a lack of good quality summer forage on many cattle farms across the state. The establishment of native warm season grasses can help fill that void. AGFC is also developing a program to assist landowners in eradicating fescue, of which some of this land could be established to NWSGs. For more information please contact: David Long
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