The Crowing Post:  3/19/07

Spring Planting Season is Here!

It may seem like winter was here just a few days ago but, the spring planting season is here.  “Now is a great time to plant native grass, forb, and legume mixes” explained Keith Brus, Regional Wildlife Biologist.  Once fields are dry enough for planting, these grass and legume mixes can be planted starting now.  The seed will sit in the soil and wait to germinate until the conditions are right.

 There are a couple of main reasons why now is a great time to plant your grass and legume mixtures.  First, the seed will be in place ready to go.  If we have a wet spring you won’t have to fight the weather to get into the field to plant.  Second, the seed will be able to take advantage of all of the moisture available once it germinates.  Third, you can get some of your conservation planting done prior to planting crops like corn or beans, freeing up some of your time later in the spring.

 PF and QF biologists suggest when you are designing the grass/legume mixtures for your fields that you should design diverse stands of grasses, forbs, and legumes.  Diverse grass stands with a wide variety of forbs and legumes will be better nesting and brood rearing habitats for pheasants and quail.

 Pheasants Forever has a wide variety of seed mixtures designed by wildlife biologists specifically to provide the best wildlife habitat possible.  All of the seed mixtures available from PF are also designed to meet the requirements of USDA conservation programs.  In addition to having the best wildlife mixes around, PF can also offer seed at a very competitive price.  To order seed or to get more information contact Pete Berthelsen at 308-754-5339 or at pberthelsen@pheasantsforever.org.

 habitat today….pheasants forever!