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Southern landowners are fortunate they can achieve several management objectives on a single property," said Jason Sellers of The Wildlife Company. "Proper management of forest and wildlife resources leads to improved land value, improved aesthetics, sustainable natural resources, balanced populations of wildlife, high quality environmental conditions and improved recreational opportunity."
Brian Murphy, Executive Director of Quality Deer Management Association, said the goal of the site is to show that both quality timber and quality wildlife can be produced when land is managed correctly.
On the timber side, Field Day participants will see the effects of weed control and be able to compare data on the first-year growth of containerized and bare-root loblolly, longleaf and slash pine seedlings.
"You will be able to observe the continued growth differences where weed control is accomplished for high tree survival and faster tree growth," said Scott Houston of BASF Forestry. "The difference in 2002 was over 40 percent greater growth with weed control."
From a wildlife perspective, the companies are seeking nutritious food plots that support healthy populations of deer, turkey, quail and dove.
"A wide variety of wildlife food plot seed mixes will be planted throughout the demonstration site to allow direct comparisons," Murphy said.
According to Houston, another focus is weed control in annual summer food plots and in permanent crimson clover plots (established last year), which provide quality wildlife forage during the cool season. Wildlife-friendly fruit trees and hardwoods are also being demonstrated.
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Monsanto Company will sponsor a separate "wildlife" plot demonstration for the first time this year at Field Day.
"This plot will give visitors the chance to learn how biotechnology and conservation tillage contribute to managing agricultural landscapes in ways that benefit wildlife and the environment," said Monsanto Technical Com-munications Manager Jim Hudson.
With demand for wildlife recreational opportunities expanding, landowners are learning that abundant and diverse animal populations can increase land values and farm income, Hudson added.
"To enhance wildlife habitat on properties that they own or lease, wildlife advocates are discovering that biotech products, such as Roundup Ready corn and Roundup Ready soybeans, can cost-effectively produce high yields in farm fields and simplify establishment of wildlife food plots," he said.
Using the tools of plant biotechnology, Monsanto scientists have inserted a natural piece of DNA into crops like corn and soybeans. Plants enhanced with Monsanto's "Roundup Ready" technology are able to tolerate sprays of Roundup agricultural herbicides, which promote the use of soil-saving practices such as conservation tillage. Conservation tillage allows farmers to plant directly into the residue of the previous year's crop without plowing the field.
Recent studies have indicated that the tandem of conservation tillage and biotech crops, including Bollgard cotton, created significant wildlife benefits by reducing pesticide usage, preserving water quality and sustaining beneficial insect populations.
"More insects are important to ground-feeding birds like quail and turkeys," said Dr. John R. Anderson, Jr,. Technology Development Manager for Monsanto. "Viable corn and soybean food plots support numerous other species that include deer, doves and over-wintering waterfowl."
The Field Day Tour begins at 8:30 am, followed by a complimentary lunch. The event is held at Spence Field in Moultrie, GA, located on Highway 133 three miles southeast of US Highway 319. For more information, visit www.sunbeltexpo.com. |
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