Conservation Solutions

Fall Conservation Topics

by Eric Rasmussen, District Conservationist

Ipswich NRCS Field Office

Fall is just around the corner and there is a laundry list of things everyone will be trying to accomplish before the white stuff begins to fly. I want to take this moment to share some timely conservation topics to consider as you prepare for winter.

NOW is the time to inventory your shelterbelts and windbreaks! Soon, leaves will be falling, and it will be hard to decipher whether you have a live tree or not. Early orders submitted to your local conservation district will ensure you get the species you desire. Popular species can run out fast! While you inventory your trees, consider why they failed. Was it due to wildlife pressure, saturated soils, droughty soils? If your issue is wildlife pressure, consider adding tree tubes. These are very effective at protecting trees from browsing animals. REMEMBER: Only tube deciduous trees, not shrubs or evergreens. If your issue is saturated soils, consider replacing with Dogwoods and Willows. For tougher soil conditions such as sandy, clayey, or gravely soils, call your local conservation office for suggestions.

Do you have Canada Thistle or Wormwood in your CRP? Fall can be a very effective time to chemical treat Canada Thistle and other biennial noxious weeds. All too often, CRP contract holders wait until mid-summer when thistles are in bloom before they act. Clipping or spraying mid-summer is a feel-good measure with little benefit on future control of the problem. In fall, many annuals including noxious weeds are working on storing energy reserves in their roots. This provides the perfect opportunity for chemicals to effectively penetrate the root preventing growth next year. REMEMBER: Before completing any management on your CRP, first contact your local Farm Service Agency office. Then contact an agronomist to discuss herbicide options and timing. Read all herbicide labels before applying chemicals!

Lastly, recent rains have boosted cover crop growth. Now that we’ve experienced our first frost, some producers are itching to get cattle out on their cover crops. The following are some tips to help ensure you have a successful cover crop grazing experience. Most issues experienced with grazing cover crops can be avoided by planting a diverse mix. Diversity enables cattle to balance themselves and avoid anything harmful if digested in large amounts. DO NOT turn cattle out on empty stomachs, this will lead to bloat. Supplement dry hay when grazing green cover crops. Work with an animal nutritionist to discuss any mineral supplement needs while grazing cover crops. Finally, be cognizant of toxicity issues that can be present with certain species under certain environmental conditions. There is an abundance of information available on this topic, and a good place to start with is your local conservation office, extension agent, or send in a feed sample to your favorite lab for analysis.

For more information on these topics and many more, be sure to contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office.