Attachment 07 Conservation Cover Pollinators.pdf

KY Job Sheet – (327) Conservation Cover December 2020 Page 1 of 6

Conservation Cover Conservation Cover for Pollinators Conservation Practice Job Sheet Code 327

Photos: C. Shrader

Definition

This practice involves establishing and maintaining a predominance of native wildflowers or other cover including trees to create pollinator habitat.

Purpose

This job sheet is provided as a component of a conservation plan. This practice may be applied to land taken out of agricultural production and dedicated to pollinators or beneficial insects. This practice is typically utilized to provide cover in blocks as opposed to establishment of narrow, linear strips of habitat.

CRITERIA

A. PLANTING

This practice involves planting grasses, forbs, legumes, trees and/or shrubs in a diverse mix to promote bio-diversity and provide nectar and pollen resources for native insects that provide pollination services.

Pollinator plantings should be a minimum of one-half acre in size to provide any ecological lift of habitat.

Smaller plantings are not as beneficial, but still may provide localized habitat to some degree, especially if there are multiple small plantings that cumulatively equate to one-half. Larger enhancements and blocks of cover (greater than 2 acres) provide exponentially more benefit to pollinators than smaller areas.

For herbaceous pollinator plantings, a minimum of ten (10) species must be established in pollinator enhancements with at least three species occurring in three consecutive bloom periods as follows:

Season Bloom Time Very Early March (or earlier) to April

Early March through May Mid May through July Late July through Sept (or later)

If you are planting herbaceous plants (forbs and grasses) very early and early should constitute one blooming period.

The establishment of woody plantings alone for pollinators will not provide sufficient food sources to sustain pollinators throughout the year. Tree/shrub plantings should only be used to supplement herbaceous plantings and provide early and very early sources of pollen. For woody species refer to the proper timing and methods and other criteria described in the conservation practice standards

(612) Tree/Shrub Establishment and (490) Tree/Shrub Site Preparation.

You should always plant species for pollinators that are native or recommended as acceptable non-natives. Planting should occur in fall or early spring depending on the requirements of plant species.

Select open sunny locations that are easy to maintain. Consider shade tolerance, aspect and climate when selecting plants. Consider the types of equipment that will be necessary to establish and maintain the planting

If pollinator habitat is the primary purpose, you should refrain from the use of pesticides once your planting is established unless it is required to control noxious and invasive weeds or invasive organisms. If herbicide or pesticide application is expected to be

KY Job Sheet – (327) Conservation Cover December 2020 Page 2 of 6 used for establishment or maintenance refer to the WinPST document attached for any associated risks.

Fertilizer application, especially nitrogen is not recommended. Application of any soil amendments should be based on recommendations from a qualified soil testing laboratory, such as the University of KY Soil Testing Laboratory. It is recommended that soil samples be collected from the area to be seeded prior to planting.

B. COMPETITION CONTROL

For herbaceous plantings, conventional seedbed preparation, herbicide application or both may be used to control competition prior to planting.

Several steps are required to achieve competition control when using herbicide especially on stands dominated by a sod grass such as fescue. Contact the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) for appropriate herbicide recommendations.

• The first step in killing fescue or other sod is to mow (or graze) the area in late summer for a fall herbicide burn down.

• If possible, after step 1 and prior to herbicide application, remove any remaining residue to provide a better seedbed and allow for better herbicide contact with vegetation.

• If needed, a second herbicide application should be planned. This application should occur after the remaining vegetation has re-grown to a 4 – 6 inch height. All herbicide applications shall be made when vegetation is actively growing.

• Light disking prior to planting may be required to loosen sod and allow better seed-to-soil contact.

• Seed by an appropriate method. The most common being the broadcast method or no-till drilling.

• Protection from grazing is essential until the stand is well established (usually by year 3).

Operation and Maintenance

For woody plantings, planners should utilize the guidance outlined in the conservation practices (490) Tree/Shrub Site Preparation and/or (612) Tree/Shrub Establishment throughout the life of the planting.

Herbaceous First, Second and Third Years

Monitoring and controlling weeds is very critical during the first three years. Most native plants will grow deeper root systems than tops in the first year, and mowing 6-8” high will not hurt them significantly.

In the first year observation of the growth of weed competition is essential. When undesirable vegetation reaches 9-18 inches tall, mow the entire stand to no less than 6” high to prevent weeds from going to seed.

Fertilization is generally not recommended until well after establishment. For herbaceous and woody plants supplemental water may be needed to maintain plant health and vigor.

In the second year, mow once close to the ground in very early spring prior to pollinators becoming active.

Postponing mowing until early spring also may provide some previous winter cover for wildlife.

Repeat the process and continue to monitor in the third year.

Habitat plantings specifically for pollinators should remain undisturbed to the greatest extent possible throughout the growing season so that insects are able to utilize flower pollen and nectar resources (for adult stages) and vegetative parts of plants for food and cover resources (for immature/larval stages).

After Establishment of Herbaceous Plantings

Schedule management for late fall after resident bees have become inactive. If site maintenance must occur during the growing season in order to maintain the open, species rich habitat preferred by pollinators, establish a system for managing a percentage (40% or less) of the site each year on a three to five year rotation.. This will allow for re-colonization of disturbed habitat from the surrounding area. Ideally, disturbance should not occur every year, but be sure to prioritize a management scenario that will maintain the desired habitat diversity and habitats components.

Perform rotational mowing (or disking on rank stands) by mowing different parts of stand(s) each year. Wildflowers may also be mowed for re-bloom in summer when drought or heat stress causes significant loss of color. This may be done when seeds have matured at a minimum of 3 weeks following bloom. Mowing high (four to six inches) and light fertilization may initiate re-bloom of several species in three to four weeks. Do not mow the entire stand at one time.

Remove or girdle large undesirable trees that begin to shade out the more desirable forbs and shrubs.

Continue to control invasive plants to lessen any negative impacts to the habitat.

KY Job Sheet – (327) Conservation Cover February 2015 Page 3 of 6

Specifications Site-specific requirements are listed on the specifications sheet. Additional provisions are entered on the job sketch sheet. Specifications are prepared in accordance with the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide. This job sheet is considered part of the conservation plan.

Client: Farm #: Tract #:

Field(s): Total Acres: Date:

Designed By: Location:

Purpose (check all that apply)

Enhance pollinator habitat by establishing:

□ Non-Native, Non-Invasive Species □ Native Forbs (wildflowers)

□ Native Grasses/Sedges □ Legumes □ Trees/Shrubs

Planting Methods & Site Preparation Prepare the site according to the methods outlined in the competition control. Additional Requirements:

Complete sections below as appropriate:

Planting Information Field _____ Field _____ Field _____

Type of Plant Material 1

Area Planted (acres)

Establishment Method 2

Site Preparation Method 3

Site Preparation Method (if combination from above) 3

Fall Site Preparation Treatment Date

Spring Site Preparation Treatment Date

Herbicide (if used and known)

Planting Date(s)

Lime (tons/acre) if applicable

WinPST

See the attached additional establishment information.

Refer to herbaceous pollinator species mix 4

Refer to the attached woody pollinator species mix 4

1 This should be identified as seed, plugs, tubers, seedlings or other.

2 Identify how the field is to be established: No-Till Drilled or Conventional, (disked and broadcast) or tree/shrub site prep methods that include Hand Establishment, Tractor/Auger, or Tree Planting Machine. For woody plantings refer to criteria identified in (612) Tree/Shrub Establishment and (490) Tree/Shrub Site Preparation.

3 List the site preparation method to be used: Grazing, Herbicide, Mechanical, Annual Row Crop or any appropriate combination.

Refer to the “Competition Control” section of this job sheet for instructions.

4 Use mixes from the CPS 327 Tables 1-5 (see the back of this JS), the KY Pollinator Handbook or other approved mixes and attach to this document.

KY Job Sheet – (327) Conservation Cover February 2015 Page 4 of 6

Specifications Site-specific requirements are listed on the following pages of this job sheet. Specifications are prepared in accordance with the KY NRCS Field Office Technical Guide. Use additional sheets if necessary.

1 CUSTOM HERBACEOUS POLLINATOR PLANTING INFORMATION – Field #_______ (utilize the table below to develop customized mixes from CPS 327)

Custom Species Bloom Period Number of

Seeds (per lb.)

Forb Rate

(oz./acre)

PLS

Grass Rate

(lbs./acre)

PLS

Total Lbs.

(PLS)*

TOTALS

Woody Pollinator Species Note: Woody plantings alone will not provide sufficient food sources to sustain pollinators throughout the year and must only be used to supplement herbaceous plantings.

WOODY POLLINATOR PLANTING INFORMATION – Field #_______ Acreage ________

Species Bloom Period

Stock Type Height at Maturity

(feet)

Shade Tolerance

Plants per Acre

Average Spacing

Total Plants

1 Assume 35 seeds per square foot at 85% purity and germination rates per acre. Refer to the The Xerces Society seed mix calculator to develop customized or specialized mixes.

Seeding Recommendations for Mickey Todd

WRE Repair 0000FZ4 REQ 1129919

Species Total PLS Oz.*

Virginia Wild Rye 26.25 Fowl Mann Grass 1.878 Broomsedge 3.75 Switchgrass 9.378 Red Top Panicum 1.878 Nodding Sedge 2.628 Shallow Sedge 3.75 Blunt Broom Sedge 2.628 Fox Sedge 3.75 Soft Rush 1.128 Path Rush 1.128 Green Bulrush 1.878 Smooth Beardtongue 0.894 Ohio Spiderwort 1.836 Blue Flag 1.896 Cup Plant 1.074 Seed Box 0.714 Wild Senna 8.652 Monkey Flower 0.534 Blue Vervain 1.908 Swamp Milkweed 1.728 Sneezeweed 0.804 Showy Tickseed 6.168 Iron Weed 2.52 Joe-Pye Weed 0.804 Yellow Wingstem 5.562 Narrow-leaved Sunflower 0.9 Winter Oats 25 lbs.

* Pure Live Seed/Ounces