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4 - THE PORT PERRY STAR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1995 FARM 8& RURAL LIFE Preserving wetlands can increase productivity DU wants farms with wetlands By Stephen Leahy Farm and Rural Life For Ducks Unlimited, more productive pastures means more ducks. To illustrate their point, DU has construct- ed two demonstration wetlands with a fenced buffer zone in Victoria County's com- munity pasture. DU's provincial agrologist, Calvin Holden says even though there is slightly less acreage for pasturing cattle, | with proper management, feed productivity | will increase. | And DU is willing to provide management assistance and funds for all farmers who § have wetlands to do it. That, in a nutshell, is the idea behind DU's new Ontario Land CARE program. With the } various options that include 100 per cent [* financial assistance, DU hopes to preserve more wetlands and, of equal importance, the upland zone around it. "It is crucial to have an upland buffer zone to protect young birds and mammals from predators," says Holden. He also points out that this can also minimize soil erosion. Land parcels eligible for the program should be presently used for pasture, hay or row crops and should be within one kilome- tre of a wetland. An ideal wetland would be larger than three acres. DU defines wetlands as beaver floods, treed swamps, shallow swales, marshes or seasonally flood- ed ponds. Under the grazing option of the program, needed. In return, DU asks that the pad- dock nearest the wetland would not be grazed until July -- by that time any nesting birds should be gone. They may also want to place nest boxes and will work with the farmer regarding the regulation of the water levels. DU will also provide technical expertise to improve the manage- ment and "increasing the carrying capacity of the pasture," says Holden. He notes that in another community pasture, 20 per cent was taken out of pasture but with proper management the remain- ing 80 per cent is now more pro- ductive than the whole pasture ever was. He also points out that keeping cows out of a wetland is better for its health since there is a direct connection between muddy cows and disease. It also reduces the amount of bacteria that gets into the water and that improves habi- tat for fish and for wildfowl. DU is also a big supporter of no- till or minimum-till is willing to kick in up to $5,000 per year for four years to pay for a seed drill or corn planter. In no-till planting, DU will assist in establishing rotational grazing and pay 70 per cent of the cost of electric fencing to set up paddocks and fence animals away from the wetland or stream. Similar financial assistance will be provided for watering, seed, fertilizer, and herbicides Productivity as well. (O% = Longer bar lengths / -- Wy available at slightly : ( TR higher cost. Sa = XR bf varp] I mi fi: { itn HIT ] Hl! a -X [VIET VE T- =X 1) Retail $669.95 |) Fe)VVH 0171), $499.95 While Supplies Last tH) Husqvarna UTICA FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED 2 miles west of Manchester on Durham 21 985-9701 yi crops are seeded directly into the JEFF MITCHELL / PORT PERRY STAR stalks and stubble left over from The conservation group Ducks Unlimited has launched an initiative that aims fora the previous y ears hay past, partnership with farmers to preserve the area's valuable wetlands. It works both Considered an exce iy don con- ways; DU says that with proper management, pasture will yield more feed S€rvation measure, Holden says no-till improves the soil structure and requires fewer inputs. >= 2) (905) 640-2260 \ )| St. Lawrence Grains Stouffville, Ontario We are buyers of Corn & Soybean. We are also an agent for Cook's for White Beans which we will receive, minimum of 6 MT per load. Corn storage starts January 1, 1996 Soybean storage starts December 1, 1995 We will be quoting prices on a daily basis. These prices will be delivered to St. Lawrence Grains, Stoufville. It also provides food and cover for migrating birds and local wildlife particularly in the spring and fall. To get DU's help to get a drill or planter, they ask that a minimum of five farm operations with a total of 500 acres agree to use the equipment, maintain it and report on its use annually. There is no requirement to have a wetland in this case and Holden reports that there are 11 groups currently being financed. And for anyone who has watched a mower chew up ani- mals or birds, Holden highly recommends DU's custom made flushing bar. The DU "freebie" attaches to the front of the mowers or haybine and flushes birds and other ani- mals. Easy to put on and folds up for transport and it is provided free of charge to any farm with a wetland. "People say it is amazing the number of animals and birds they scare out," says Holden. DU will also lease land ducks like but is marginal for pasture or other uses. They will also pay for rehabilitation E .E in ii Available through clo ple} Mele] RERS Authorized Dealer 4 x 1 Hole Special 4 x 2 Holes Special 482.00 24 Hour Service *400.00 WATERBOWLS 327.00 to $37.00 Complete R.R. #1 Oshawa, Ont. - Phone 655-3177 AGRIMETAL BADGER SMALE RISSLER =] of degraded lands near wetlands and help farmers convert cropped lands to forage -- provided haying is delayed until July. To get the complete details of The Ontario Land CARE contact DU in Barrie at 705-721-4444. U.S. farmers save soil and wildlife Down south an estimated 75 per cent of the U.S's wildlife live on priv ands -- much of that is farmland. In the past 10 years, wildlife has been 'helped by a government program called Conservation Reserve | million cropland acres have bee: which pays farmers a yearly fee for each acre of erodible land they plant in soil-binding grasses and trees. aE ae In addition, as of 1994, no-till and other conservation tillage practices were being used on over 99 million acres. CRP and no-till are designed to reduce soil erosion. But it appears that what's good for farmland is good for wildlife as well. According to the Wildlife Management Institute, CRP has created new grassland wildlife habitats equal to an area twice the size of all national and state wildlife refuges within the contiguous 48 states. gram (CRP), Noa 8 seen enrolled in