Winter/Spring 2001

Membership Dollars at Work: Farming for Ducks

The past several seasons, waterfowlers in Mississippi, had more reasons to anticipate opening day. No, we are not talking about a large bag limit or a late season closure. We are talking about more ducks migrating through Mississippi that will increase the chances of success in the field. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that 41.8 million ducks throughout North America made their trip South this past year. Although this represented a 4 percent decline from the record of 43.4 million birds in the 1999/2000 season, this represents a 27 percent increase over the long-term average since surveys began in 1955.

"That's one of the best fall forecasts since the 1980s", stated Billy Van Devender, a member of the Foundation's Corporate Council and an avid duck hunter. "There's an increased breeding population for waterfowl because of improved habitat in areas like Mississippi," continued Van Devender. "Of equal importance is an improvement in the nesting habitats in the northern part of the United States and Canada", said Dennis Fijalkowski, Executive Director of the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation. "In past years, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and Canada have been plagued with dry weather conditions. Until recently, the wet weather has created excellent nesting conditions," stated the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Director.

Specific examples of increases in the population include a 27 percent increase in mallards, a 69 percent increase in blue winged teal and a 21 percent increase in green winged teal.

In addition to improvement in breeding habitat for waterfowl, wintering habitats for waterfowl in the Lower Mississippi Valley, and more specifically in Mississippi, have increased dramatically. "Habitat management programs once restricted to state and federal lands are moving beyond the refuge to the farm," stated Senator Thad Cochran, who is also a member of the United States' Migratory Bird Conservation Committee. He was recently given the Conservation Legislator of the Year Award by the Mississippi Wildlife Federation.

"Through an innovative program called the Mississippi Partner's Project, which is sponsored by groups such as the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Ducks Unlimited and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2,954 water control structures have been provided cost-free to 737 Mississippi landowners. These landowners have, in return, installed the structure into their own farm drainage system. They are operating them to provide as much as 93,576 acres of wintering habitat for waterfowl," continued Van Devender.

This program goes beyond simply managing for waterfowl and deals with the nature of farming. "Can waterfowl management be integrated into economically viable agriculture production practices?" asked Charles Baxter, Coordinator for the Lower Mississippi Joint Water Venture, part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Many of the 737 Mississippi partners, as well as the hundreds of other farmers impounding water on harvested crop land, are beginning to view the practice of holding winter water on harvested fields as a dollars and sense conservation practice for winter weed control, seed bed preparation for minimal erosion control, etc. At a past meeting of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Cochran, who gave the Keynote Address at the meeting, stated that perhaps there is something larger at stake than just soil, water and waterfowl conservation. "It is our ability to go about the business of living and farming in a manner that accommodates wildlife. The Mississippi Partner's Project is an acknowledgement that the future of North America's waterfowl resource rests not so much with government agencies as with landowners."

And speaking of landowners, they are the backbone of the Mississippi Partner¹s Project. Let's take an in-depth look at the project and what it is doing for waterfowl habitat and the nature of farming in Mississippi. In fact, the project is very simple. Upon request from a landowner, a biologist on staff with the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation will meet with him or her to discuss objectives and to inspect the intended site(s). In exchange for free water control structures, the landowner signs a ten-year informal Waterfowl Habitat Development Agreement with the requirements listed in Table 1.

At the end of the ten-year period, the pipe becomes the property of the landowner. By participating in this program, landowners can receive up to $3,500.00 worth of materials per year (approximately seven structures). These structures can be designed to comply with Natural Resource Conservation Service specifications, so cost share assistance for dirt work and installation can often be obtained.

"Waterfowl management practices on lands vary widely with land-use practices, site features and locations in Mississippi. While some species such as wood ducks breed in Mississippi, the State makes its biggest contribution to waterfowl as a wintering ground. In fact, Mississippi is one of the most important wintering areas in the United States for mallards. Thus, most opportunities for landowners to practice waterfowl management involve wintering habitat," stated Van Devender.

Rob Ballinger, Field Biologist for the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, installs the boards in the water control structure. Photo by the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Waterfowl management on harvested croplands consists of providing 2 to 12 inches of water on fields between November and February. In some instances, this results from the natural accumulation of rainfall. Landowners can provide valuable habitat by rebuilding contour levees, closing existing drainage structures or by installing additional structures in existing ditches. Cropland impounded with winter water is valuable because it gives waterfowl access to waste grain and weed seeds, which are sources of energy needed to survive winter. Rice fields are the most attractive to waterfowl, especially if rice stubble has been rolled or lightly disked to provide openings for birds. Soybean and milo fields are also attractive to waterfowl when impounded with water, but these seeds decompose at a faster rate than rice or weed seeds.

"The easiest and least expensive way to provide this habitat is for landowners to close drainage structures or rebuild contour levees after harvest and allow rainwater to accumulate. This is a good management practice because the gradual increasing of water levels allows waterfowl to utilize newly impounded areas throughout winter," continued the Wildlife Mississippi Trustee.

Moist soil management is a technique used to promote growth of naturally occurring herbaceous plants on wet soils. Waterfowl, particularly mallards, find seeds, herbage and invertebrates of moist soil plant communities especially attractive when these areas are shallowly impounded in late fall. Research studies indicate that the nutritional needs of wintering waterfowl are fulfilled more readily on moist soil areas than on croplands. According to Van Devender, moist soil management is generally practiced on lands where drainage structures or contour levees can provide water management capability. It is a practice well suited to land in annual or long-term set-aside programs.

Wild millet, smartweeds, sedges, spikerush, crabgrass, panic grass, sprangletop and other plants can germinate and develop dense stands before winter. Abandoned cropland, ditch borders, wet fields and set-aside land not disked or clipped all make suitable moist soil areas if they can be impounded in the fall and drained the following summer. The necessary water management capability can usually be attained with stop-log water control structures and/or low levees. Impoundment of winter water is accomplished by closing structures and catching rainfall and runoff or by pumping. Season and rate of water draw-down determines plant species composition the following year. Most moist soil areas have a natural supply of seeds in the soil waiting for proper conditions to germinate. Soil disturbance, such as disking or burning may be necessary every few years to help control unwanted species, such as willow and cockleburs.

"Waterfowl habitat management does not interfere with most agricultural practices and, in many instances, actually enhances field conditions for spring planting. Winter water on fields increases soil moisture, reduces erosion and winter weed growth and helps repair field ruts made during harvesting operations. Waterfowl use in fields helps to eliminate weed seeds, such as red rice, for the following crop season," concluded Van Devender.

If you would like to participate in this program, please contact Rob Ballinger, Field Biologist, Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, P.O. Box 10, Stoneville, Mississippi 38776, (662) 686-3375.