The Curmudgeonette and I visited SDak for the first time this year. The good news is that I got my corn stalks shredded before the rain. The bad news is that the rain didn't amount to much. Since last July there has been very little moisture. The good news is that wildlife, pheasants included, had an easy winter and I did see a few when I was in the field. The bad news is that the fields need moisture for this year's crops.
The enclosed picture shows me standing in my Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) field. It is contracted for ten years with the USDA and I must maintain the grass cover. Mid contract, i.e., this year according to the contract, it is necessary for me to do something to disturb the grass. This is to rejuvenate it. I can burn the grass before May 15, or do light tillage during August. I'd much prefer burning so that the grass can grow and provide winter wildlife cover. However, it is so dry that there is a county burning ban so for now I'm not allowed to burn.
The enclosed picture shows me standing in my Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) field. It is contracted for ten years with the USDA and I must maintain the grass cover. Mid contract, i.e., this year according to the contract, it is necessary for me to do something to disturb the grass. This is to rejuvenate it. I can burn the grass before May 15, or do light tillage during August. I'd much prefer burning so that the grass can grow and provide winter wildlife cover. However, it is so dry that there is a county burning ban so for now I'm not allowed to burn.
