1. Large Scale Pollinator Habitat
Preparation, Establishment, Management,
And Benefits
Renee K. Buck
Farmbill Wildlife Biologist
Pheasants Forever, & Quail Forever

2. Pollinators 75% =240,000 plants rely on pollinators.
Essential to human health, global food webs and protection of biodiversity.

3. Planning Considerations
Diversity of Plants=Diversity of wildlife & insects
Bloom times= Early, Mid, Late
Natives= more nectar & pollen
Specific Host Plants, Monarch + Milkweeds

4. Size + Shape + Color = Diversity

5. Other Ideas Trees and Shrubs
Natives: host plants, nectar & pollen, nesting, shelter and hibernation.

6. Other Ideas Brush piles, insect hotels, down trees structures, snags.
Nesting, Shelter & Hibernation.

7. Site Preparation
MOST important step!
GOAL=‘Clean’, prepped seed bed!

8. Site Preparation Cropland Recommended Site Prep
Soybeans is the easiest!
Recommended Site Prep
After beans are harvested, 1 herbicide treatment, as needed.
After corn is harvested, light disc, 1 herbicide treatment.
After Wheat, double crop Soybeans, to clean seed bed.

9. Site Preparation Turf Lawn Recommended Site prep
This will take some work.
Recommended Site prep
At least 2 herbicide treatments, and possibly tillage
Cool season turf grasses will outcompete and crowd out natives.

10. Site Preparation Hay/Pasture Lands Recommended Site prep.
This may take the most work!
Is there persistent invasive shrubs & weeds?
Consider Tillage!
Recommended Site prep.
Remove and treat any existing invasive shrubs.
At least 2 herbicide treatments and tillage.
May consider planting Soybeans for a year?

11. Establishment-When? Spring vs. Fall/Winter Seeding
Dormant seeding is needed for some species.
Cold-moist Stratification=30, 60, 90, 120 days
Some species have a dormancy phase that needs broken by winter conditions.
Weather
Spring seeding dates: NRCS Recommend April 1st-June 30th
Dormant Seeding: weather dependent, NRCS: Nov 1-Feb 15th.

12. Establishment- How? Equipment= Drill vs. Broadcast
Habitat contractors, equipment rental

13. Establishment- What? Seed Mixes Focus on Natives
Addition of some non-native species.
Legumes: clovers, alfalfa, etc.
Annuals: cosmos, zinnia, alyssum
Avoid Invasive Species
ODNR
Ohio Division of Agriculture (ODA)
NRCS/USDA
OSU Extension

14. Establishment- 1st Year Mowing
Reduce weed competition
Allow new seedlings to access light, water, & nutrients.
Mow between 10-12” tall, any shorter could damage plants.
Avoid primary nesting season Mar 1st-July 15th.
Cautious of Monarchs= Arrive in Ohio late July-Aug
Lay eggs on Milkweed
Migration in Sept.

15. Establishment Patience & Persistence Weed Control
Spot Mow
Spot Herbicide
Hand Pull
Some Native species grow slow, may take 2-3 years to flower.

16. Management- Goals Control Natural Succession Maintain some bare ground
Invading shrubs & trees.
Canada Goldenrod reduction.
Maintain some bare ground
Native bees need access to the soil.
Soil disturbance
Thatch reduction
Maintain Diversity
Interseed wildflowers
Add wildflower plugs of unique species.

17. Management-Timing Avoid Primary nesting season: Mar 1st-July 15th
Monarch reproduction: August-Sept.
Monarch migration: August-Oct.
Leave standing in the fall
Winter cover & food

18. Management-Practices
Mowing
Simulates Grazing, controls weeds & trees/shrubs
Herbicide
Controls weeds, treed/shrubs
Prescribed Fire
Removes thatch, control invasives, recycles nutrients
Interseeding/adding Plugs
Renews diversity, adds new species.
Disking
Soil disturbance

19. Management-Considerations
Habitat Management involves Art and Science, have some creativity and don’t be afraid to try things!
Every site is different!
Never preform mngt on entire area
Leave refuge

20. Benefits to Wildlife Great Pollinator Habitat = Great Wildlife Habitat
Food= Seeds, insects, small mammals, etc.
Shelter= nesting, brood rearing, escape and winter cover.

21. Farm Bill Programs & Technical Assistance
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
One of the largest and most successful conservation programs
Singed into law 1985
Voluntary
Farmers/landowners remove land from production and establish practices to provide land cover
Water quality, prevent erosion, provide wildlife habitat.
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Administers contract, & payments
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) & Pheasants Forever (PF)
Provide technical assistance
conservation planning.

22. Farm Bill Programs & Technical Assistance
CRP Eligibility
Own land for 1 year.
Have cropping history for min. 4 years between
Participants
10-15 year contract
Receive and annual rental payment, based on soil types.
Cost Share on establishment
SIP: Signing incentive payment, certain practices
PIP: Performance Incentive Payment, certain practices.
MCM: Mid-contract Management.

23. Farm Bill Programs & Technical Assistance
CRP Pollinator Practice
CP42 Pollinator Habitat
10 yr contract
50% cost-share
SIP
MCM
Standards
≤25% Native Grasses
Min. species of wildflowers, 3 in each bloom period.
Min. 0.5 acres
Min. 20 feet wide.

24. Farm Bill Programs & Technical Assistance
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
Voluntary
Financial & technical assistance for Establishment
Agricultural & non-industrial forestland
Competitive
Several different funding categories
Cropland, Forestry, Pasture, Livestock, Wildlife, etc.
NRCS
Administers contracts, payment, technical assistance, & planning.

25. Farm Bill Programs & Technical Assistance
EQIP Pollinator Habitat
Something in every category that could provide for pollinators
Cons. Cover, field border, filter strip, riparian buffer, tree & shrub planting, windbreak/shelterbelt, wetlands, etc.
Specific for Pollinators
Wildlife
Honey Bee Pollinator
Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development Project
Contact NRCS staff for more details!
Jeff Barnes, District Conservationist
Karen McAllister, Resource Conservationist

26. Farm Bill Programs & Technical Assistance
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Working lands
Goal: build on current conservation practices & strengthen the operation.
Enhancements to current conservation.
Address a resource concern.
NRCS
Administers contracts, payment, technical assistance, & planning.
5-year contract

27. Farm Bill Programs & Technical Assistance
Your CSP
Corn
Cotton
Crops
Dairy
Forestry
Livestock
Organics
Pork
Poultry
Rice
Soil Health
Sorghum
Soybeans
Wheat
Wildlife
CSP Pollinator Habitat
Build a plan to includes practices that benefit pollinators.
Contact NRCS Staff for more info!

28. Other options/resources
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (USFWS)
Cooperative conservation program
Habitat restoration projects on Private lands
Conservation & Management of the Federal Trust Species: migratory birds, T & E species, etc.
Technical & financial assistance.
Contact Donnie Knight for more info
(614) ,
Local PF/QF Chapters, NWTF Chapters
OPHI: Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative

29. Questions? Contact me! rbuck@pheasantsforever.org 937-578-8264
Preble SWCD