June 26 Bradford field day looks at quail habitat, native plants

Saturday, June 21, 2008

* Farmers may profit from converting acres to quail habitat.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Farmers and landowners who provide habitat for bobwhite quail don't have to sacrifice productivity or spend a lot of money. Some wildlife-management techniques may actually save time and effort, and eligible farmers can receive per-acre payments through a USDA conservation program.

University of Missouri Extension specialists have developed techniques for integrating quail habitat management with modern agriculture at the MU Bradford Research and Extension Center. The 591-acre research farm will host a bobwhite quail/native plant field day on June 26.

Northern bobwhite quail were once abundant in Missouri. Over the last 30 years, however, their numbers have declined more than 70 percent as modern farming techniques erased prime quail habitat.

Tim Reinbott, superintendent at BREC, and Bob Pierce, MU Extension wildlife specialist, tested a number of habitat-management practices on 40 acres at BREC. Audubon Society bird counts have recorded a 23-fold increase in the quail population at the farm since 2003.

Reinbott notes that planting fields from fence row to fence row isn't profitable. Crops tend to become smaller and less robust at field borders. Converting these areas to buffers containing native warm-season grasses and other bobwhite-friendly vegetation provides habitat where quail can feed, nest and avoid predators.

Buffer zones may also provide farmers with extra income. Under provision CP33 of the UDSA's Conservation Reserve Program, the agency will pay qualifying farmers to convert crop acreage into buffers suitable for quail and other wildlife.

The field day begins with an indoor seminar on quail ecology and habitat management at 3 p.m. A series of wagon tours beginning at 4 p.m. will allow participants to see demonstrations of habitat-management and conservation techniques developed at BREC.

Tours will also look at using native plants for landscaping, cleaning up water runoff from rain gardens and providing seed and insects for birds.

The field day is free and reservations are not required. Drinks and hamburgers will be provided.

For more information about the field day, including driving directions, see http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/contact.php or call Tim Reinbott at (573) 884-7945.