FIELD OFFICE TECHNICAL

GUIDE (eFOTG)
• Section I
– Cultural Resources and NHI
• Section II
– Soil Interpretations
• Section III
– Quality Criteria
• Section V
– Physical Effects
WILDLIFE GUIDE SHEETS
 USDA Program
Assistance Opportunities

to fund Invasive Plant Control

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service

Conservation Security Program

A new way to think of conservation

• Rewards farmers practicing good

conservation
– Other programs used to fix problems
• Incentives to improve further
• Concentrates on working lands
• Voluntary program authorized in 2002
Farm Bill
For Tier III, evaluate all areas of the
operation for General Wildlife Habitat
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service YES NO N/A
Cropland Habitat (includes hay in rotation)

3) Is at least 5% of your enrolled

production lands in non-cropland
vegetative cover which is only
disturbed (mowed, grazed, burned)
between July 15th and Sept. 15th OR
are the disturbances implemented as
a part of a Wildlife Management Plan
AND is <50% undesirable species?
 Undesirable Species
Autumn olive
Black locust
Buckthorn, common & glossy
Canada thistle
Crown vetch
Dames rocket
Eastern red cedar
Garlic mustard
Honeysuckles, exotic bush
Japanese barberry
 Undesirable Species
Japanese knotweed
Leafy spurge
Multiflora rose
Prickly ash
Purple loosestrife
Reed canary grass
Reed grass, common
Spotted knapweed
Sweet clover, white & yellow
Wild parsnip
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service YES NO N/A
Pasture (only evaluate areas >10
acres in size)
Is your pasture management described
by one of the following:

•>50% of the grass cover is maintained

above 6” in height;
•If grazed <6”, is >10 ac. an ungrazed
refuge prior to July 15;
•If refuge is grazed prior to May 15,
grass height is maintained above 6” in
height and is ungrazed between May 15
and July 15.
•Is <50% undesireable species
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Vegetation is <50% undesirable species like:

Reed canary grass

Wild parsnip
 YES NO N/A
Permanent Hayland (only
evaluate areas >10 acres in size)
For all enrolled permanent hay
field(s) do you leave them idle or
only mow them between July 15 and
September 15 AND is vegetation
composition <50% undesirable
species for wildlife (reed canary
grass, Phragmites, wild parsnip,
crown vetch, spotted knapweed)?
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service

Woodland
Areas

Control
invasives

Exclude cattle
CSP Wildlife Enhancements
Biodiversity Enhancements
Remove invasive plants
following a plan - $10/ac

Honeysuckle Multiflora rose

 EQIP
NRCS determines eligible Land, based
on an identified resource concern.
- cropland
- pasture and rangeland
- private non-industrial forestland
- other farm & ranch lands with an
identified resource concern
EQIP - Multiflora rose
- Crawford & Richland Co. LWG identifies
Multiflora rose as a priority for 75% c/s assistance
- $5,000 of each allocation set aside in a special
funding pool for MFR removal
- 2 acre maximum per contract
-Highest ranked funded until $5,000 gone
 EQIP - Multiflora rose
Brush Mgt, Light: Flat rate of $50/acre
Brush Mgt, Medium: Flat rate of $85/acre
Brush Mgt, Heavy: Flat rate of $190/acre

1) hand cut and herbicide

2) mow and herbicide
3) herbicide only
EQIP & Purple Loosestrife
WI first state to use funds for invasive
species control under Wetland
Restoration & Pest Mgt. practices.
EQIP & Purple Loosestrife

GLIFWC given $50,000 for purple loosestrife

control on tributaries of the Bad River.
Subcontracted with TNC to spray 140 acres.
Galerucella beetles introduced in 2000.
 EQIP
- $45,000 of EQIP Education funds assisted
GLIFWC to establish a Purple Loosestrife web
site for ID, control, mapping, & brochure.
- NRCS contributions helped publish POOP and
Leafy Spurge pamphlets.
Conservation
Reserve CRP
Program
 Primary Restrictions

Required Mgt
by Practice:
disking, mowing, or
burning the 1st & 6th
years of the contract
(c/s is paid)
 Required Maintenance
Annually paid for as part of rental payments
•$5-10 / acre / year
•spot treatment for invasives
 CRP Noxious/Invasive Policy
• “All invasive/noxious weeds, pests, and
diseases must be controlled by the
participant,” according to National Policy.

• Weeds, pests, and diseases are not defined,

nor is the level of infestation determined.
 WHIP
Prairie and Oak Savanna restoration, utilizing
invasive plant removal, is very popular.
WHIP funds pay to remove:
- honeysuckle & buckthorn;
- prickly ash & box elder;
- wild parsnip & willow
- garlic mustard
Reed canary grass control has NOT been funded
 WHIP practices
BRUSH MANAGEMENT
Remove undesirable woody vegetation to create or
restore desirable habitats for wildlife. Clear brush-
infested land having potential to restore grasslands,
savannas, and barrens. Treatment consists of
mowing, herbicides, cutting or girdling, or stem
injection.
 WHIP
BRUSH MGT light: <15% woody cover of
stems 0-2 inches in diameter. Flat rate of $40/ac
 WHIP
BRUSH MGT medium: 15 - 40% of woody cover
0-2” diam. Flat rate of $85/ac

BRUSH MGT heavy: >40% brush 0-2” diam.

and/or 25 stems/ac >2” diam. Flat rate of $180/ac
 WHIP practices
FIREBREAK
Mowing or disking only: $.02/foot
Mowing and clearing woody stems: $.04/foot
Seeding Firebreaks or Firelanes: $.04/foot
 WHIP practices
PRESCRIBED BURNING
Purpose: tool to manage desired wildlife habitat.
Used in prairie or savanna/barrens for establishment,
restoration, control of invasive plants, or mgt. of
plant communities.
Grassland Reserve Program
Restore & Protect grassland while
maintaining area as Grazing Land
Minimum 40 acres

LO responsible for control of State

Noxious weeds at their expense.
(part of their Grazing Mgt Plan)
 WRP Mgt Options
Projection of desired vegetation communities
based on soils, landscape position, and planned
hydrology.

Identifies practices to maintain those communities.

LO responsible for State listed Noxious weed

control.

NRCS determines when “invasives” need

treatment, and covers the costs.