Journals

Golf MS Delta Style

Golf, MS Delta Style

The MS Delta Ducks team took a well-deserved break from the office and hit the links in the Leflore Country Club Member/Guest Golf Tournament. Martin came down from Oxford to join me for the two-man tournament and Cris recruited a good friend and fellow outdoorsman, Hunter, to compete with him. Fortunately, the tournament directors grouped our two teams together along with one other team.

Beginning early Saturday morning, we set out in our Ole Miss game day polos and Titleist visors to enjoy a full day on the course. The tournament was a one-day, 27-hole competition consisting of 9 holes of “four-ball,” 9 holes of “alternating shot,” and 9 holes of “scramble” golf.

Martin and I started out pretty rusty on the first two holes but quickly gained our composure and put up a decent score for the day. Cris and Hunter did their thing as well. Cris ended the day with a new nickname - “Boomerang,” for his vicious slice. If the “flighting” had not been so weird, we might have even been in contention for some money. We may not have won the tournament, but we definitely took home the self-determined “Best Looking Team” of the tournament.

All of us at MS Delta Ducks are competitors. That is probably one of the reasons we love to put up big numbers in the duck blind or turkey woods. While we have to take time off from hunting seasons, golf is one of the hobbies that we enjoy most. It provides a great way for us to enjoy good company and to compete at the same time.

We enjoyed a beautiful day on the course and ended the weekend in a way that we at MS Delta Ducks have very high value for. The girls, Meghan, Mary Kathryn, and ‘Momma’ joined us for a great Sunday morning service and family lunch. Whether it is duck season or golf tournament time, we always take the time to thank our Heavenly Father for His provision, His blessings, and the people that He has placed in our lives. Oh, and by the way, Meghan was a big hit with the Greenwood family. It's now Facebook official.

MS Delta Fishing Tournament

Fishing Tournament MS Delta Style

As I’ve mentioned in an earlier journal entry, one of the ways that I get my outdoors fix during the summer months is fishing some of the outstanding Delta lakes in search of game fish. Field Staffer Britt Goodman’s future in-laws, Eddie and Angie Flowers, own a nice cabin on Lake Chicot which is a Delta Oxbow lake just across the Mississippi River Bridge in Arkansas. All the field staff guys like to brag about their superior fishing skills so we arranged a MS Delta Ducks Staff fishing tournament at Lake Chicot for the weekend of June 2-3. The bragging rights were at stake.

I was teamed up with senior field staffer, Garrett Holland, and we decided to do a little pre-fishing on Friday afternoon to scout out some potential hot spots for the next morning’s duel against staffers, Britt Goodman and Jack Edmonson. We fished around some docks mixed in with cypress and experienced some late afternoon success with the biggest take weighing in at 4 lbs. We caught six solid fish, and I felt like we had a good plan for the next morning’s showdown. We met at the dock at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, settled on the rules and struck out on our fishing odessy. June is a prime month for bass fishing in Delta Lakes. Garrett and I were optimistic that we would end the day with a limit of fatties.

It was a cool Delta morning at about 58 degrees, which provided ideal temperatures for the fish to be aggressive. Garrett and I located one of our spots from the afternoon before, and as I settled in the trolling motor, Garrett hooked the first spotted bass before I could even get a cast off. It weighed about 2 lbs. We trolled along and spotted a school of bass along some rocks. I flung a top-water bait out to where the fish had been popping the surface. Gave it two jerks and boom, hooked the second morning’s fish also in the 2 lbs range. We kept throwing our worms against rocks and under docks, catching our first five fairly quickly. When working aggressive feeders, I like to cast to the top of the rocks where the fish are holding and work down the edge with short jigging motions.

We were still searching for that one big bite that I knew we were going to need. With only about 9 or 10 lbs, I wanted a 4-5 pounder to put us on top. We had enough time to get the monster bite since it was only about 8 a.m. We tied on a bigger plastic brush hog hoping to find the heavyweight. We fished hard for the next three and a half hours catching about 20 more 2 lbs fish. 11:50 a.m. arrived, and we had to go weigh in and see who the champs were. We arrived back at the dock, and the intensity started to build. And then I caught a glimpse of Britt and Jack’s fish. Their fish were smaller than ours except for one. I looked at the catch closer and knew that it was going to be tight but felt like they had it. We weighed all the fish and were separated by 1 lb with Britt and Jack winning the bragging rights. I am competitive to the core and don’t lose easily. It was a fun morning, and the MS Delta boys had a blast. I encourage you to fish some of these nice Delta lakes.

No trip to Lake Chicot is complete without a dinner in Lake Village at the Cow Pen. In 1976, the Cow Pen restaurant was created from a converted old cattle inspection station, and a Delta dining tradition was born. Our dates joined us, and Meagan, my new friend, got to meet the gang. Britt’s girlfriend, Mary, and Garett’s friend, Hilary, rounded out the party. The Cow Pen is renowned for its steaks, seafood, and Mexican and Italian dishes. We all opted for a steak and one of their great salads. We listened to a live band and did a lot of catching up. A great Delta weekend in this flatland that I call home! And Meagan just might be a keeper. She’s up to meet the Greenwood family next. Stay Tuned.

2012 Farm Bill and Wildlife Habitat

How Will Wildlife Habitat Fare under the 2012 Farm Bill?

Pale streaks of daybreak start showing in the sky. They come in low as silver slices through the fifteen-year-old bottomland timber, and the land slowly lightens from black to gray, while the world once again takes solid shape, in the midst of this timbered flatland. Low-hanging scattering of winter clouds are backlit by the new dawn, and a knee-high mist rises from the dark wetlands and surrounding black clay soils. A new day. And a good one. I am privileged to start most days in similar Delta surroundings during the fall and winter months as I live my dream directing wildlife programs at MS Delta Ducks. Yesterday’s hours pouring over spreadsheets and financial agreements fade away in this time and place. But I keep in perspective the work and dedication of the wildlife enthusiasts and managers who have preserved these venerable grounds. The active role that landowners through the assistance of USDA programs have taken in preserving and restoring this unique bottomland habitat. And it was disappearing.

During the 1970’s production demands were high as world populations exploded, and the most efficient farmers in the world pushed back the Delta forests and wetlands to make way for increased production. It was a golden era of expansion and excitement in Mississippi agriculture. But then came the ill-advised embargos and policies of the Carter Administration, destroying export markets, sending interest rates to record highs as debt swallowed farming families whole: usher in a period of decline for production and a reprieve to wildlife habitat. The USDA put in place numerous programs designed to decrease cropland acres and address environmental issues through increased wildlife acres. The Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) formed the backbone. We enjoy the fruits of those policies and decisions made in difficult times.

Today, I see us at a crossroads. Production demands take the forefront again and agriculture is thriving. In addition a vital need to save taxpayers dollars is at the center of all Americans’ thoughts. The new farm bill will save taxpayers $23 billion. What will the effect be on wildlife habitat? It doesn’t have to be devastating. As the agriculture community has rebuilt markets, improved production and became the healthiest sector of the U.S. Economy, so can the wildlife managers and landowners be smart and make wise decisions with available resources.

According to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (commonly referred to as 2012 Farm Bill), “Our rapidly growing population demands that America’s farmers double their production over the next few decades and use fewer acres to do so. Conservation programs ensure we have a safe and abundant food supply, clean water, and thriving wildlife populations. The Act consolidates 23 existing conservation programs into four fundamental program functions, achieving $6 billion in deficit reduction.”

I will discuss a few of the relevant programs and their potential use for and impact on waterfowl habitat. With the progress already made, the tools are there to continue to provide expansive wintering grounds for waterfowl by blending environmental concerns, habitat needs, and production considerations. First, on cropland acres “EQIP will continue to provide cost-share for certain activities on working lands that help farmers avoid and comply with regulation. Many parts of the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) have been consolidated into EQIP focusing the program on farmers and ranchers looking to create or improve areas for wildlife habitat on their working lands”.

With EQIP, which stands for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Act “adds ‘develop and improve wildlife habitat as a purpose for assisting producers to install and maintain conservation practices.” It” establishes at least 5 percent of the funds will be targeted to practices benefitting wildlife habitat “and” establishes wildlife habitat incentive practices as conservation practices that support restoration, development, and improvement of wildlife habitat for upland wildlife, wetland wildlife, threatened and endangered species, fish habitat, pivot corners and irregular fields, and other types.”

In other words, the government is encouraging the same practices that MS Delta Ducks has advocated, blending production benefits and wildlife management. For example, EQIP funds have been used to establish and build tailwater recovery systems. Now the landowner strengthens the opportunity of receiving those funds by creating food sources for wintering waterfowl in conjunction with the practice of capturing groundwater. Recreational income becomes more attractive when it is multiplied by USDA funds. We’ve previously suggested planting food in fringe areas. How much more lucrative that becomes to the landowner if the recreational income is enhanced by EQIP funds for developing wildlife habitat for wetland wildlife in pivot corners and irregular fields. I spend a great deal of creative time exploring ways to increase food sources and habitat without decreasing production. Now, I will spend time with Extension Specialists in looking for ways that efforts can be undertaken through the joint efforts of landowners and the USDA. Hunters can’t just keep saying, leave some crop in the field. The approach must be more creative and wise. It has to make economic sense.

Another program which has been renewed and tweaked under the new Act could benefit the duck hunter on production acreage. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will authorize the enrollment of in excess of 10 million acres per year through 2017. Rigid formulas have been replaced by greater latitude and focus on identifying concerns at the local level. The modified vernacular increases the emphasis on new conservation or emerging conservation technologies on farms. Another potentially important feature is that added language allows enrollment of lands that are under WRP as well as establishes a priority enrollment consideration for expiring CRP acres. I will be exploring this option and watching closely in the MS Delta Ducks’ efforts to assist our landowners in the ongoing efforts to strengthen duck hunting along with production.

Several other sources of funds under the Act are Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) and the Conservation Loan and Guarantee Program. CIGs “are provided on a competitive basis to encourage the development of new or improved conservation practices. CIG is geared towards projects that offer new approaches to providing producers environmental and production benefits.” The Conservation Loan and Loan Guarantee Program helps famers get started with conservation by providing loans to borrowers to build conservation structures or establish conservation practices.” Clearly passing legislation is only one step in the process. Implementation of procedures and policies and the commitment of resources will tell the tale on which of these programs become effective in our efforts to improve the infrastructure for the duck hunters.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been providing benefits to the soil, water and wildlife across the Delta for more than 25 years. It played a major role in providing a respite from the massive clearing of bottomland forests and encroachments on wetlands. The program’s part in reversing the trend cannot be overstated. Under the current farm bill, I am excited about the new emphasis placed on the most highly erodible, sensitive acres. While CRP has helped create large expanses of habitat, its effectiveness in improving duck hunter specific groundwork has been more limited. For the average duck hunter, it is vital to have a gateway to the farmland acreage in the Delta and for that acreage to remain and become increasingly accessible on an affordable basis. CRP and WRP have helped recreational landowners by making funds available for their use in developing habitat. However, the reality is, that the sales market for this acreage is limited as is the number of hunters who are able to take advantage of the habitat created. Most producer-oriented landowners employed and planted CRP acres with little or no consideration for waterfowl food plots and duck holes. The goal was to maximize cash flow by enrolling wall to wall acres. High commodity prices will put tremendous pressure on farmers to convert some of the 10 million CRP acres expiring back into crop production. Enter the present legislation.

The Act refocuses the Conservation Reserve Program. According to the United States Senate Committee, “CRP” removes highly erodible land from production to benefit soil and water quality as well as wildlife habitats. The program currently has an acreage cap of 32 million acres. Over the next two years, the contracts on over 10 million acres will expire. The bill lowers the acreage cap through a multi-year step down to 25 million acres, allowing for the re-enrollment and prioritization of the most highly erodible, sensitive acres. There is an added focus on grassland conservation. “As I understand it, the provision for the enrollment of 1.5 million acres of grasslands is aimed at preserving grasslands and wetlands. Features of the program include a 200,000 acre increase in acreage for wetland restoration. Under the grasslands and wetlands component, landowners whose land qualifies for the program can enroll directly in this continuous category at any time, which is in contrast to the general sign-up for most CRP acres.

In the arena of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the act provides that “all conservation easement programs will be streamlined under one program, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program: Agricultural Land Easements and Wetlands Easements.” The legislation, “clarifies that the Secretary may provide up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of an easement” and “adds a priority for CRP enrollment in the program.” I don’t envision much new acreage being enrolled in WRP in the Mississippi Delta. The exception may be some expired CRP acreage. On the real estate sales side, Cris has found, that with most existing WRP acreage, market value does not rise to the 50 percent of appraised value not covered by enrollment in the program. In other words, most landowners actually lose value by enrolling in WRP. I am optimistic, though, that some provisions of the farm bill will help to better equip existing WRP acres for duck hunting – for example the Conservation Stewardship Program.

In summary, from a duck hunter’s perspective, I feel good about the next five years under this farm bill. I envision some CRP acres on heavy soils being cleared and put in precision-leveled production with surrounding fringe, low-lying acres remaining in bottomland hardwood. This will make an excellent venue for open-field duck hunting. In addition, a change in emphasis to rewarding owners of working land for providing waterfowl habitat and infrastructure could be a big win. Expect my knowledge of the new aspects of the programs to increase significantly over the coming year.

Stay tuned and come hunt with us!

Bowfishing Mississippi Delta Waters II

MS Delta Bowfishing II

With a good amount of early summer rainfall, the bowfishing areas that I frequent have been a little higher and muddier than normal. The bowfishing has still been enjoyable, but there have been no big sticks to get my blood pumping. All that changed on a humid Tuesday Delta afternoon. In prior years, night outings with a spotlight have been my clear preference, but this season my habits have changed. Assuming the responsibilities of corporate treasurer, a lot of work in the office has me rising early and putting in a full, often stressful, day at my desk. As a result, I started either hitting the links or the lakes in late afternoon with the intention of bowfishing or hitting balls into the early hours of darkness. The consequence has been the discovery that I prefer late afternoon expeditions.

The 12th of June, I stood on a favored bridge on a hot, muggy afternoon with no shooting. Walking down the edge of the bridge, I spotted what looked like an umbrella opening and closing about a foot under the water. On closer examination, there was a Big Ned floating along the surface feeding lazily. I drew the arrow and stuck the huge Asian Carp, and the fight was on. Garrett came up behind me to be ready to assist in landing this monster. The fish thundered up the lake away from the bridge and struggled against the line for about 10 minutes. As I felt the fight fading, I walked the fish down the edge of the bridge and drew him into the lake bank. Pulling the massive carp from the water, I lifted up a fifty pound mammoth and the biggest fish that I have stuck to date. Guess I'm getting old and settled, but the afternoons are now for me.

The Asian Carp is an invasive species and bowfishing won't begin to put a dent in the rapidly expanding population, but the harvest of a big fish is a win for the environment. Large, mature fish are reproductively significant as they tend to produce more young than small fish do. There is now one less huge fish out there, and an equally large smile on this sportsman's face.

Cropland Prod and Wildlife Mgmt Co-Exist?

Can Production and Wildlife Management Co-Exist on Cropland?

There are 279.1 million acres of cropland of which 36 million are planted in CRP and 243.1 million are planted in corn, soybeans, wheat, upland cotton, minor feed grains or rice (total 8 crops). Net farm income hit a record high in 2011 at $108.7 billion and is projected to hang around the $100 billion mark for the next decade. Per acre rents have increased and are exceeding $200 per acre in some cases. Net per acre profits for producer – owners are greater than that. It is no longer realistic to expect farmers to leave unharvested grain in the field and flood a hole at current high-energy prices and then collect a nominal lease amount for the season. Additionally, in the area of production, there is a strong emphasis on excellent drainage and high yields. Small streams of wildlife income are not attractive to producers if they are contrary to yield and drainage aspirations. As the wildlife industry moves forward, it becomes increasingly valuable to discover a niche, which fits with the strong demands on efficient production. Otherwise affordable open-field waterfowl hunting will become relegated to the good ole days.

Historically, as you drove through the Mississippi Delta Region agriculture was everywhere you looked – all those gleaming, winter – flooded fields giving sustenance to wintering waterfowl during the winter months and wide, breathtaking fields of cotton, soybeans and rice lining the highways during the spring and summer. Today, farming still reigns. At $7.02 billion, agriculture continues to hold the rank of Mississippi’s No. 1 industry, employing approximately 29 percent of the state’s work force, whether directly or indirectly. Farmland in the State covers 11.2 million acres. But there have been significant changes. Corn has replaced much of the cotton, and rice acres are declining as well. Farmhouses have been removed to make way for irrigation. Fields are larger and squarer. Massive GPS –Navigated farm machinery requires broad spaces and long rows for maximum usefulness. Highly efficient drainage ditches and canals border grand expanses of precision – leveled fields.

In past years, much of the open –field waterfowl hunting has been on rice ground. Recently rice has not been as profitable as other alternative crops. Much of the acreage has been replaced by corn that is also an outstanding source of food for wintering waterfowl, but production considerations are significantly different. After harvest, rice fields are often rutted and waste grain abounds in areas where the rice has been blown down (decreasing the efficiency of harvesting equipment). Even if the ruts have been rolled out, small tracts created by hunters’ ATV’s are insignificant at spring planting. Rice is drilled and not planted on rows or seedbeds. In other words, it provides the ideal format to flood and hold wintering waterfowl. Corn, on the other hand, is planted on wide rows. It is planted early in the spring and harvested early in the fall. Farmers follow harvest by preparing the fields for spring planting. Floodwater for waterfowl erodes the rows, and hunters’ ATVs cut ruts in the rows, which significantly hampers in – season irrigation. Higher water levels are required to cover the row and create an attractive sheet of water to attract waterfowl. This is a greater expense for the farmer and ultimately the hunter. Will rice rebound? It requires vast amounts of irrigation water during production with high fuel costs. The proposed farm bill does not account for many of the rice farmer’s concerns, which may further reduce the crop. Dietary habits in developing countries are turning to pork and poultry for sources of protein. This replaces rice in their diets while increasing demand for corn as a source of feed for the livestock and poultry production. As rice acres subside, so does traditional sources of holding and open – field hunting ducks.

Good crop prices in recent years have also brought sharp increases in land prices. In the past 14 months, top farmland has gone up over $1,000 per acre, and there has been a fall-off in the number of quality farms available for sale. As product gets harder to find, this drives some buyers to look at poorer quality farms, with plans of upgrading them. In addition, and more importantly, capital investments that once were too expensive based on income return and potential for increase in land value have now become, not only feasible, but extremely lucrative. I have several properties that famers made available for duck hunting in previous seasons but are being withheld from hunting this season as capital land improvements are undertaken. Tens of thousands of acres of idle catfish ponds have been returned to row crop production at a capital land improvement of $300 to $1,000 per acre. Improving drainage on marginal ground and converting aquaculture to row crop reduces a significant amount of winter water acres in the Mississippi Delta.

Streamlined farm drainage is shooting more and more water straight to the rivers, which through channelizing efforts, in turn, moves the water rapidly to the Gulf. The efficiency in drainage does not come without a cost. That water contains silt, which contains phosphorus and other nutrients. A lot of fingers are being pointed at farms for the fall out from their drainage practices. Sediment clogs waterways and silts in lakes while the phosphorus and nutrient rich water causes damage to the marshes and wetlands along the Gulf. Fortunately for duck hunters, practices, which temper and reverse these ill effects, also provide a niche for waterfowl opportunities.

Start with residue and tillage management. Residue is the single most important factor influencing soil loss. Residue protects the soil from raindrop impact, slows down water velocity over the field, decreases soil detachment and erosion, and increases water infiltration. All tillage decreases residue cover while reduced-tillage systems cut soil loss by up to 90% in erodible fields. Obviously, mixed in with the residue is waste grain. In addition to being environmentally friendly, reduced tillage improves the farmer’s bottom line. Reduced tillage can save on average $25-$30 per acre in corn and $18-$20 per acre for soybeans in input costs compared to conventional tillage. Conventional tillage is not essential for high corn yields. No-till corn yields after soybeans are rarely lower than those after conventional tillage. For the hunter this means more food in the fields without hurting production. A win for production and for wildlife management. A trend in the hunters’ favor.

In conjunction with reduced tillage, installing a buffer cuts down on loss of soils. Grassy strips between fields and water bodies filters out sediments and nutrients from surface runoff and shallow groundwater. A correctly designed and placed buffer can trap 90% of sediment from the drainage area. Buffers provide the waterfowler another opportunity for wildlife management. Farmers can be encouraged to plant cover grasses, which lend a feel to keeping the field untamed and making it as natural as possible. Another opportunity lies in planting seed grasses in the buffer or over-seeding with millet in late summer. As harvesting equipment leaves less waste grain, it is important to develop alternative sources of dependable food. A buffer is another area where the landowner can chalk up a win for both production and wildlife management.

The USDA through its various agencies is strongly promoting tailwater recovery systems. Almost every time that Cris discusses with the local Extension Office plans for farms under his management umbrella, a tailwater recovery system is recommended. Modern farms need to conserve and reuse water and keep nutrients and chemicals on the farm. Tailwater recovery systems pay off for the environment with reduced nutrient loading of water leaving the farm. They also reduce dependence on groundwater and reduce overall irrigation expenses. A typical 20 acre reservoir is normally in a low-lying area of the farm to be the most ideally situated to capture runoff water. For the hunter, it creates a 20-acre duck hole that boosts the bottom line in production. Another double win for both production and wildlife management.

In closing, affordable open-field duck hunting can survive and thrive among the demands for increased yields and production. It requires waterfowlers who are educated and informed about current farm practices and economic dynamics. The days of providing a farmer a year-end Christmas stash in exchange for dropping the boards and cranking the pump are drawing to a close. Wildlife management, like farm production, must enter the new era. Give me a call with questions or concerns.

Come hunt with us!