CRP Design Question

[Meyer30]

I am wanting to sign up some fields for CRP this fall. I contacted my nearest Pheasants Forever biologist and they put together the below plan. I like hunting pheasants but want to design this for deer first. Road screening is obviously one of my biggest goals. This is my first CRP sign up so any advice, suggestions, or critiques would be greatly appreciated! I'd like to not make a 10+ year mistake...

Also, any thoughts on signing up now versus waiting for a new farm bill?

 

[hans1]

Looks good, as to wait for the next Farm Bill I would enroll now if you like the rates. Getting the cover established now has some time value.
As to the plan the only change i would make is clover fire breaks along the timber edges 20-30 feet wide. Makes burning easier.

 

[Hardwood11]

Looks like a solid plan ! I like the windbreaks personally! Make sure you get the max Continous CRP rate !

Also I’d do 15 years in the field windbreaks… not like you will tear out the trees in 10 years !

* I just did a field windbreak in Iowa at $300 an acre for 15 years and they pay almost every dollar to plant the trees … oak, plum, spruce/pine and possibly hackberry.

 

[deerdown]

I'm not familiar with those individual programs but it's important to me to understand the mid management practices required of each one. It might be important to you knowing how to split the fields. How about food plots in those programs or do you not desire them/have other means for plots?
.. Wind breaks are a road hunters best friend...fwiw

 

[Asclepias]

Unless you want a thistle nightmare. I would have them do the pollinator under a 20:20. Those 10:30 mixes are trouble.

 

[Snail3496]

Might want another wind break on the south end of the west field. Depending on the topography, any car headed northbound on that road will be able to see in on it all when the south corn isn't up.

Did you just draw that all out on Microsoft Word? Looks nice!

 

[Duckriver]

Too many variables with next farm bill. Senate wants to cut crp payments back to 35% and many other cuts.
If the rates are acceptable to you get in the door now. The continous sign up period will end in July. If your not signed up by then , you will have to wait till after October. Much of what you have planned will be 100% cost share plus annual rental rates. If you sign up now, you can defer contact to start till October.

 

[newfarmer]

Seems to look good, but whats the area further away look like for bedding options? Looks like a familiar piece of ground which I am sure its not, but the way one I know lays, I feel like you would pull a lot of bedding deer, so you would really have to think entrance/exit strategies with that much bedding. I am a stickler for concealed routes, so just think about wind options I guess

 

[Sligh1]

I am wanting to sign up some fields for CRP this fall. I contacted my nearest Pheasants Forever biologist and they put together the below plan. I like hunting pheasants but want to design this for deer first. Road screening is obviously one of my biggest goals. This is my first CRP sign up so any advice, suggestions, or critiques would be greatly appreciated! I'd like to not make a 10+ year mistake...

Also, any thoughts on signing up now versus waiting for a new farm bill?

View attachment 127557

Enroll now!!! I am pretty sure CRP rates are based of recent cash rent rates. Which are much higher as we are coming off of $7 corn. Well, as corn settles at $4’s- rates will likely come down. Not political BUT- if Trump wins…. Rates will come down…. Fuel prices will come down & commodities will likely dip some as well. Thus rent rates come down. R’s are for sure tighter on the farm bills as well… lower cost share & rental rates.

anyone: learn a lesson from 2013-2015…. Sign up when the prices are really high & commodities are down. We saw this movie before. CRP rates got cut in half when they caught back up to a huge drop in commodities.


On the seed- I like it. Good advice from everyone of course. Can make some tweaks & theres a few places to get seed for best prices that are in iowa as well.

 

[Meyer30]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm definitely wanting to get this done this year. Cover/sanctuary are the limiting factors in the area so the sooner I can get those established, the better. The farm hunts really small right now with the open ag fields and road frontage.