FOOD-PLOT NEWS

Forest Stewardship News Release (01-10)
January 21, 2010
For Immediate Release

The Deer Balancing Act

Wildlife biologists often speak about "balancing" the deer herd. What does this mean? How many of us really know just exactly what it is they are trying to accomplish, how to go about it, or how to know when we have gotten there? Penn State Cooperative Extension is offering several programs this spring on deer and habitat management -- balancing the herd.   

Deer populations larger than the habitat can support pose serious problems for homeowners, agricultural producers, woodland owners, and the public. Safety is one issue affecting many people -- from Lyme disease to deer-vehicle collisions. A recent Maryland survey found that 1 out of 6 citizens knows someone who hit a deer with a car. Deer browsing reduces farm crop yields, damages landscape plantings, and reduces forest plant diversity. Managing deer populations so they are in balance with the available habitat is essential.

Research has repeatedly documented deer impacts on tree regeneration and forest herbaceous plant diversity. The ability of a forest to support deer is a function of both deer density and forage availability. By selectively browsing preferred palatable plants, deer influence tree seedling numbers, species composition, and seedling height growth. Because deer are free to move, it is important to consider their management at a landscape level and to understand how concentrated preferential feeding can shift plant communities. As deer feed on one species, another species that is not preferred can become increasingly common. Research findings indicate that when deer numbers exceed what the land is capable of supporting, deer can severely impact the forest’s ability to regenerate itself following natural or man-made disturbances.

Landscape level forage availability relates directly to the ability to support a healthy deer population. When deer populations are out of balance with available habitat, preferred forage species decline and subsequent foraging is even more detrimental to preferred plant species. Preferred plants continue to decline in abundance and may even be locally eliminated from the landscape. In regions where over-browsing for decades has severely depleted food species, even very few deer have major impact and the habitat can only support very few animals. In landscapes with little preferred forage, deer numbers in balance with available habitat must be kept low. To sustainably increase the number of healthy deer the habitat can support, landscape forage availability must increase. It is possible to increase desirable forage through management activities such as controlling undesirable vegetation and harvesting trees.

When deer numbers are out of balance with their habitat, look for obvious browse lines, evidence of severe browsing on non-preferred species such as American beech, striped maple, and black cherry, and forest understories dominated by species deer avoid (e.g., hayscented fern, striped maple, American beech, hophornbeam, mountain laurel, blueberry, spicebush). Across Pennsylvania it is relatively easy to recognize areas where the deer-habitat balance has been upset for years: non preferred plant species, such as hayscented fern, cover the forest floor. Many Pennsylvanians have never seen a healthy forest understory. Can these habitats recover over time? How do we move them from undesirable species to create better deer habitat? What kinds of management decisions will lead to the best solutions? Resource managers have some of the knowledge and tools necessary to improve conditions, but sometimes the answers are evasive.

Web seminars and hands-on workshops offered this spring by Penn State Educators and partners will answer some of your questions. The first webinar entitled "Regenerating Hardwood Forests; Managing Competition, Deer, and Light," is on February 9 at noon and 7 p.m. The second webinar, entitled "Deer Habitat Management," is on March 9 at noon and 7 p.m. For webinar details or to register to participate, visit: http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PaForestWeb.html.

Penn State will also offer several hands-on workshops entitled "Deer Density and Carrying Capacity Workshops." These workshops are open to landowners, hunters, and anyone interested in learning more about deer and their habitat. During the session participants learn how to evaluate a given habitat, how its condition relates to deer biology, density, and carrying capacity. For a listing of dates and locations for these workshops, visit the Renewable Natural Resources Extension webpage at: http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu, and click on the "Calendar" Quick Link on the right hand side of the page.

The Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program provides publications on a variety of topics related to woodland management. For a list of free publications, call 800 234 9473 (toll free), send an email to RNRext@psu.edu, or write to Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Resources Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, 416 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and USDA Forest Service, in Partnership with Penn State's Forest Resource Extension, sponsor the Forest Stewardship Program in Pennsylvania.

Written by: Dave Jackson, Extension Forester
Phone: 814-355-4897
Email: drj11@psu.edu

Event Calendar

Central PA (Blair, Centre, Clinton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, and Union Counties)

Wednesday and Thursday, February 4 and 5. Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture: Harvesting in the Back Forty: Agroforestry in the Mid Atlantic and Beyond. Penn Stater Conference Hotel, State College (Centre County). Registration $140; limited to the first 30 participants. Visit http://www.pasafarming.org/conference2010/track2.htm for more information and to register.

Saturday, February 27. Central Region Forest Landowners Conference: What Every Forest Landowner Needs to Know, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m, Penn State School of Forest Resources Building, University Park. Registration is $20 per person. Please register by February 19. Contact Dave Jackson, Penn State Cooperative Extension – Centre County, 814-355-4897 or CentreExt@psu.edu.

Mowing clover plots in the Northeast

Folks, here in the Northeast we are having extremely good weather for clover/chicory plots. This is probably not true for other parts of the country, but NY and PA and surrounding states are sitting pretty. Now that our little heat wave is over, we have had rainfall and moderate temperatures. Cooler weather has arrived as I type this. A lot of you who do food plots are focusing on getting those fall plantings in, but don't forget the perennial clover plots.

Clover is a cool season crop and it loves this weather. This past week has been just about ideal for mowing white clover plots. We don't have to worry about hot dry weather cooking the bare ground and stressing the plants. I cut mine SHORT this time. I try not to do that when hot weather is looming (although I have and always got away with it here in NW Pennsylvania) , but ladino and other 'New Zealand' or white clovers will tolerate close mowing better than most plants...so it is an opportunity to get a little advantage over competing weeds.

Most perennial legumes have a good growth surge in the fall, especially new seedlings, which helps them thicken-up and get established against competing grasses and weeds. Rule of thumb: if your yard is still green and growing then the clovers are growing, too.

Weather is supposed to be dry this coming week, but I think we have a good situation for fall plots to get started also (grains, brassicas, etc.).
Phil Anderson, PAS
Emlenton, PA
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&pageID=4802#&cm_sp=qdmm2009-_-08_28_09-_-na

Mason-Dixon Branch’s Food Plot Day

August 8th 2009, Dillsburg, Pa. Gamelands #242

With a lot of help from the Dillsburg food and cover crew, we were able to plant 1+ acres of wildlife forage on public lands.

First step, we contacted land manager Jeff Mackey to see what he needed. We agreed that winter forage for whitetails would be a great asset to surrounding habitat. Jeff took soil tests as we purchased seed. We decided to diversify the plot into grains and brassicas. Our choose for the grain was Buck Forage Oats’ “Harvest Plot” due to it’s ability to survive temperatures down to 10 degrees. Brassica mix was purchased from QDMA’s Ed Spinazzola’s “Deer Attraction”.

The Food and Clover team tilled, and disked the field three weeks before the planting. The field sat idle for two weeks to let any weed and grass seed to germinate. After this germination the F and C team sprayed it with a glyphosate product. Now we are ready to plant. Some of you are saying wait, where is the lime! Well, back to the soil test. Northern York County usually has a ph of 5.0-5.5. The test showed 6.5, in the good range for our plots. I asked Jeff how this happened, and like any good land manager; he limed the entire field in this area last year!

We had Dick Berry demo his bulk lime spreader and Groundbuster disc.

Dick gave some very helpful tips and gave Jeff the keys to the tractor to spread the special blend of bulk fertilizer. Your lucky you got the keys back Dick!

The oats were drilled, and the brassicas were broadcasted and culipacked.
Stay tuned for updates on the plot.  Better yet, see if you can find it!
 Free QDMA Hat to the first person to find it. Just contact me.

Rick Watts
bowhawk@comcast.net

Dick Berry showing how his Bulk lime spreader works.

 
Jeff Mackey checks the settings on the drill as Director Glenn Yohe kick starts a bag of Buck Forage Oats. We don’t know if this works, we’ll try ALMOST anything to make things grow!

 Jeff Mackey in the zone

Beautiful morning in South Central Pennsylvania planting a food plot.
Thomas Nelson, Pa Bucktail graduate, using the hand spreader.

Picture taken September 1st

Guidelines and Protocol to Apply

1. Since these funds will be requested from the PA State Chapter for funding, all must follow protocol and complete the Adopt-a-Food-Plot applications.

2. Determine if branch is receptive and will commit to a multi- year maintenance of a food plot. If this decision is dependant on future funding from the PA State Chapter provide details, as best you can. If your Branch cannot make a commitment for up to 3 years - stop here.

3 . Contact your Regional PGC Land Manager, Forester or Park superintendent or other applicable supervisor. Make arrangement to meet and discuss Adopt a Plot Program. These lands should be open PUBLIC ACCESS and HUNTING like Game Lands, State and National Forests and State Park lands.

4. Find out if they are receptive and determine their willingness to cooperate and participate in the Program. Without his help and commitment, this will not work.

5. If he/she is receptive, discuss where he/she might want an Adopt-A-Food-Plot. They might have a food plot program already established, and supplementing a this program might be easier (and cheaper) than breaking fresh soil.

6. Point out to Land Manager it would be in Branch's interest to locate a plot near to the branches main point of operation. Long travel will reduce Branch member participation and interest.

7. Agree on site and plot goals. ( Cool season perennials vs.. annual carbohydrates or combination of both).

8. Soil Tests will be required and copies of these need to be submitted with your Application forms. Photos of the site and rough measurements would be helpful. Hand drawn or outline on a topographical or aerial photo will help in identifying the location proposed, as well.

9. Find cost of Lime and Fertilizer and Herbicide. Spend some time soliciting Farm Supply, Agway, fertilizer sales etc. for donations of same. Also solicit seed from seed suppliers. Offer to put their name on a plaque or sign at or near the location.

10. Every effort to raise funds and donation locally should be made BEFORE Application. This program should not be viewed as a "give away", but as an assistance program.

11. Discuss w/ Land Manager (PGC or Others) who will be responsible for machinery. Most food and cover corps have plows, drills and mowing equipment available and on site. It is easier for them to use their equipment than get liability clearance for us to do it. . Discuss costs for planting and long term maintenance. Include details of this and any other volunteer or discounted assistance as part of the Project Application.

12. Document all costs including: Lime and Fertilizer, Seed, Herbicide, Site prep, seeding, and possible selective herbicide spray program. Also estimated costs of mowing if perennial. Estimate on-going maintenance costs and estimated needs from this Fund for such maintenance for at least 3 more years.

13. Submit completed 'Application For Adopt A Food Plot Funding' cost sheet to State for funding consideration. You may be contacted by the committee to clarify portions of your Application or with questions which may include suggestions on reducing the size of your project to enable more Branches Applications to be funded or partially funded. Mail application and any other supporting documentation to PA QDMA, 35 Grow Ave, Montrose, PA 11801.

14. With funds secured, schedule plot establishment with Land Manager.

15. Project progress reports and photos are required and should be sent to PA QDMA at various stages of completion including the completed project and the following year(s) including a brief evaluation and comments. This does not have to be a comprehensive report, just the Branch's overall evaluation on the success or lack of and why they think it happened and if they have suggestions to improve this and similar projects in the future.

16) Perhaps we may enlist Kip, Trupe or some other professional to make random site visits to see what we or they can do to make the Adopt-a-Food-Plot project a better. This may mean 1 visit to some plots and 3 or more visits to others depending on peoples access and availability.

Application Forms

Click here to download the application as a Microsoft Word (.doc) file.

Photos of Plot in Progress

Coordinating with Land Manager	Spraying to kill grasses and weeds
Spreading Lime for Soil Ph needs	Spreading fertilizers as called for by Soil Test
No-Til Seeding the prepared Site	Early Germination