1. WILDLIFE HABITAT
PRACTICES FOR YOUR
FARMPresented by: Tiffany Beachy
Private Lands Wildlife Biologist
Smithfield, VA

2. Picture your farm…

3. Who else lives there?

4. Add Intrinsic value to your property
• Manage areas for wildlife
• Create a legacy that will last for generations
• Act now to help the wildlife that share the land
with you!

5. What can I do??

6. Priority Habitats
• Emphasis on habitats of national, regional, or state
significance
• 5 priority habitat types in Virginia:
1. Upland grassland habitat
2. Riparian corridor habitat
3. Woodland and seasonal habitat for migrating wildlife
4. Fish passage/stream improvement
5. Other decreasing habitats

7. Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
• A voluntary program through NRCS for those
who want to improve wildlife habitat on
private lands
• Receive technical and financial assistance for
establishment of specific wildlife habitat
practices

8. Habitat practices
-Field Borders
-Cut Back Field Borders
-Conservation Cover
-NWSGs, Legumes, and Shrubs
-Hardwood Tree Establishment
-Shrub Establishment
-Hardwood Stand Improvement
-Disking
-Prescribed Burning
-Hedgerows
-Wetland Creation/Enhancement
-Pasture Conversion to NWSGs
-Herbicide Application

9. Pollinator Habitat
• Plant native wildflowers near crop borders to
improve habitat for native pollinators and to
improve crop yields
• Mix wildflowers with NWSG for quality early
successional habitat

10. Field Borders
• Reduced yields along edges
• Competition for light, nutrients
and water
• Might be better off as
conservation cover

11. Field Borders
• A great way to create wildlife habitat
- Native Warm Season Grasses + Forbs
- Plant or allow to grow back naturally
• Benefits quail, rabbits, songbirds, etc.

12. Cut-Back Field Borders
• Where: Crop fields bordered by non-desirable
trees and/or invasive species
-Tree-of-Heaven, sweet gum, maple
• Use a High-speed forestry mulcher, chainsaws
• Herbicide treatment is important!
• Benefit: More productive crops along field edge
plus improved wildlife habitat

13. FESCUE CONVERSION
• Fescue is not wildlife friendly
-Carpet/Sod Forming
-Barrier for quail
• NWSGs grow in clumps and provide
overhead cover and nesting structure
• NWSGs are drought tolerant
- 2010 was extremely dry
- Tough on pasture land
- Many switched to hay early
- Diversify pastures and have some
NWSGs
NWSGs
CSGs
Photo taken 7/13/2010

14. NWSGs – Root Systems

16. PINE MANAGEMENT
• Prescribed burns and firebreaks
• Expanded and seeded log decks and forestry
roads

17. HARDWOOD MANAGEMENT
• Forest Stand Improvement
– Herbicide treatment of low quality trees
(sweetgum, maple, etc)
– Mechanical thinning to open up the canopy
• Allow sunlight to reach forest floor
• 50% of the ground should receive sunlight at noon
– Prescribed burning to promote
herbaceous understory

18. HARDWOOD MANAGEMENT
• Hardwood tree planting
• Filter strips for riparian areas

19. Prescribed Burning
• Sets back succession
• Controls hardwood regeneration
• Removes pine “duff” that suppresses new plant
growth
• A Certified Burn Manager must oversee the burn

20. What does this do for me?
• Establish a legacy of natural resource
conservation for future generations
• Relaxation
• Entertainment
• Healthy, ecologically responsible food source
for your family

21. What about additional income?
• Hunting / Fishing / Trapping leases
• Horse trails
• Hiking / nature trails
• Bird-watching

22. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
• I am available to visit your property
– Look around
– Search for opportunities
– Prepare a habitat management plan
• Take advantage of this resource
• Contact me:
757-357-7004 ext. 126
tiffany.beachy@va.usda.gov

23. Questions??