Partners for Fish and Wildlife biologist Kristin Westad and a landowner evaluate a CRP contract. - Courtesy photo by John Johnson, NRCS

Ohio is taking a novel approach evaluating Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts by developing mid-contract management teams, with which the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has been heavily involved. 

Since 2003, landowners are required to manage their CRP fields mid-way through the 10-year contract period.  To improve evaluation consistency across the state and maximize wildlife benefits, the Farm Service Agency assembled teams with employees of local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pheasants Forever, the Ohio Division of Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

The State Wildlife Team (subcommittee of the State Technical Committee, of which the USFWS is represented by the State Coordinator for the Partners Program) developed an assessment worksheet and held a state-wide meeting in June of this year to train evaluation teams on this process. 

These teams evaulate the suitability of CRP fields for wildlife; namely grassland birds.  Evaluations are based on structure, diversity, and presence of invasive species.  Teams also recommend the best management options to address problem areas, which can include any combination of herbicide application, disking, burning, grazing, mowing, and inter-seeding. 

The Ohio Partners for Fish and Wildlife biologists participated in mid-contract evaluations across the state with several partner agencies.  Combined, Partners and other wildlife biologists offered input on over 1449 CRP contracts, impacting over 32,000 acres.  

Implementation of these recommendations will improve the habitat of CRP fields for grassland birds, which have shown alarming population declines in recent decades.