Conservation Corner: January 21, 2002

Wildlife Seed Available
by James L. Cummins

Anyone who has ever spent an afternoon perched in a tree stand overlooking a food plot will certainly have a deep appreciation for wildlife plantings.

Food plots are very attractive to wildlife because they can supplement their daily nutritional needs. Such plots can be established and maintained at a relatively low cost. These plots can be designed to serve as a source of food and, sometimes, cover. Well-managed food plots have the potential to increase numbers of wildlife, quality of health and observability.

To aid landowners who would like to plant wildlife food plots, Wildlife Mississippi, working in cooperation with Resource Management, Inc. and Pioneer Hi-Bred International has initiated a Wildlife Habitat Seed Program. Through this program, Wildlife Mississippi will make seed available at a minimal cost.

The Wildlife Habitat Seed Program is designed to provide an incentive for landowners to establish and maintain food plots that will yield a variety of benefits to the landowner as well as the species(s) of wildlife he or she is managing.

Winter wheat, corn, grain sorghum and sunflower seed will be available through the 2002 Wildlife Habitat Seed Program. All seed has been treated and has excellent germination rates. The seed is provided by Pioneer Hi-bred International and is distributed through Resource Management, Inc. to the Foundation.

Various types of seed are available. If planted properly, they will be utilized by a variety of species of wildlife. White-tailed deer, turkeys,
quail, mourning doves, waterfowl and many species of songbirds will benefit from these plantings.

The guidelines regarding this program are simple and easy to follow. Anyone interested in obtaining seed should send a written request to Wildlife Mississippi. The order should contain the type(s) and amount(s) of seed requested. Wildlife Mississippi will be taking orders up until February 16, 2002. This will allow the staff to place the orders with Resource Management, Inc. in a timely manner to ensure that the orders will be filled.

There will be a minimal fee to help cover trucking and administrative fees incurred by the Foundation. The costs will be $12.00 per 50 lb. bag for corn, $8.00 per 50 lb bag for sorghum and soybean, $8.00 per 20 lb bag for sunflowers and $4.00 per 50 lb. bag for wheat. Persons ordering seed will be required to pick-up the seed in either Amory, Greenville or Hattiesburg.

For an order form and more information about how you can take advantage of this unique program, please call Wildlife Mississippi at (662) 686-3375, write us at P.O. Box 10, Stoneville, MS 38776 or go to our web site at www.wildlifemiss.org.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.