Quail Program

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WANT TO HELP QUAIL?

Henry County is one a few across the state eligible for an important program to help the plight of bobwhite quail. Also making the short list are neighboring Weakley and Carroll counties.

Quail have continued to decline at an alarming rate across Tennessee but a program is available to help these feathered friends and it has some monetary incentives worthy of consideration.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is offering a one-time incentive payment of $100 per acre for landowners to enroll in federal Conservation Practice 33 and improve habitat for bobwhite quail.

Part of the federal Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Practice 33 (CP 33) allows farmers to enter 10-year contracts to establish buffers planted to native grasses on one or more sides of eligible crop fields or odd areas left behind by center pivots. Wider buffers (50 feet or more average width) and idled odd areas deliver more secure wildlife habitat. The practice is most commonly referred to as "Bobwhite Buffers" because it is targeted at improving habitat for bobwhite quail.

While CP 33 is open to statewide enrollment, the incentive from the TWRA is only being offered in 36 counties considered high potential for bobwhite quail restoration, said Mark Gudlin, TWRA Private Lands Liaison. "With limited incentives funds, we're narrowing our focus to areas considered as best chances for success and the best habitat practices to get there."

In 2010, Tennessee reached a previous state limit on CP 33 acres, but thanks to the efforts of Quail Forever and bobwhite quail conservationists, the state was granted another 2,500 acres by USDA to be offered for enrollment. "Landowners are showing there's a demand for creating quail habitat, and we hope the new incentive from TWRA continues to spur them on," said Tim Caughran, Quail Forever's Regional Wildlife Biologist in Tennessee."

There are currently 4,806 "bobwhite buffer" acres in Tennessee. Wider buffers, 50 feet wide or more, are most effective. "Wider CP 33 buffers increase the chance quail will respond to the new nesting and brood-rearing cover. While we have several approved planting mixtures, the 'shortgrass mix' is the one we believe provides the best cover and also has the best options for weed control," Gudlin said.

Under the CP 33 contract, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pays the participant a standard CRP annual soil rental payment, up to 50 percent cost-share for cover establishment, an extra Practice Incentive Payment amounting to 40 percent of the establishment cost, plus a one-time Signing Incentive Payment of $100 per acre. The one-time TWRA incentive is in addition to and separate from the USDA payments. In many cases, payments received through the CRP program will greatly exceed what the landowner is currently making from crop production in these field border areas.

The TWRA incentives are capped at $5,000 per CP 33 contract, which would equal 50 acres of native grass buffer.

To be guaranteed the TWRA incentive, applications must be received by May 15, and the CP 33 buffers must be planted by June 30. To find out if your land is eligible for this practice, contact the Farm Service Agency office in your local area.

Here in Henry County the USDA office phone number is 644-1395.

Steve McCadams is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area. He has also contributed many outdoor oriented articles to various national publications.

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