Cropland Management

Aerial view of cornfields with strip of trees between them.
Cropland Management

To make a good profit, farmers must maximize production from every potential cropland acre of the farm, creating a delicate balancing act between economics and good resource management. The slightest alteration in a crop field's structure can have a major impact on wildlife calling the area home.

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General Guidelines for Managing Wildlife-Friendly Croplands

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  • Follow best management practices for pest management.
  • Use a crop rotation system that includes small grains and forage crops.
  • Use cover crops for winter erosion control, soil health, and wildlife benefit.
  • Follow soil test recommendations and use variable-rate fertilizer application.
  • Use a no-till system. Avoid fall tillage. Crop residue protects the soil, and wildlife use the grain left behind from harvest throughout the winter.
  • Plant native warm-season grass or wildlife-friendly cool-season grass around the borders of all or a portion of your crop fields.
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  • Establish wildlife-friendly grass filter strips around ponds and along creeks to reduce sedimentation, trap nutrients, and add wildlife cover.
  • Seed waterways to wildlife-friendly grass/legume mixtures. Mow or hay after the primary nesting period of May 1 to July 15.
  • Protect woody draws and fencerows. Spray these areas mid-to-late October with a herbicide to set back grass encroachment and encourage shrubby cover.
  • Leave a minimum of 1/4 acre of unharvested standing crop for every 40 acres of crop field adjacent to good cover.
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For more information, review the cropland management practices listed in this section. These practices can help you maximize production while providing essential wildlife habitat.

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