Animal pollination is a critical part of our world’s economy. Thirty-five percent of our food crops and 75% of our flowering plants need the presence of pollinators to thrive. This includes most fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, livestock forage, and oil crops. Pollinators contribute $24 billion to the economy in the US alone. The trouble is many of our major pollinators are dying in large quantities. […]
Why Are So Many Pollinators Dying? Read More »
Silphium terebinthinaceum, more commonly known as prairie dock, is a flowering plant that can be found in most of Illinois, along with select areas of Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Some refer to it as prairie rosinweed, a name derived from the sweet-smelling resin it produces when cut. When fully grown, prairie dock can reach heights of 10 feet. Small, yellow flowers bloom at the tips of its stems, while
Prairie Dock – A Tall, Resilient Pollinator for CRP Read More »
Recently, Cargill announced a new initiative set to drastically reduce water usage and improve water quality in critical areas around the world. By 2030, they plan to restore 159 billion gallons of water to priority watersheds. As one of the largest US-based ag companies, Cargill is hoping these changes can inspire similar actions across the industry. Agriculture is currently responsible for 80% of water use in the US. While much of this water ultimately returns
Improving US Water Conditions Through CRP Read More »
Silphium lacinatum is known by a number of names: pilotweed, gum weed, turpentine plant, and more. Its most popular name, however, is compass plant. Compass plant is a flowering plant native to eastern and central US and can often be found alongside big bluestem. Like most plants in the Silphium genus, compass plant flowers have vibrant yellow petals that spread out from its center like sunrays.
Adding Compass Plant to Your CRP Mix Read More »
Earlier this week, the US department of Agriculture started receiving reports of people receiving unmarked packages of seeds. In almost all cases, they were postmarked from China. Within days, reports had been confirmed in all 50 states. While the situation is still being investigated, this is believed to be part of a brushing scam. A brushing scam involves people
The Dangers of Unmarked Seeds Read More »
The Conservation Reserve Program is a great way to make a profit on marginal farmland while also restoring it back to health. However, it comes with a number of regulations and requirements that need to be followed. Some of these are fairly straight forward, while others can be a little confusing, especially when you’re initially joining the program. Many
Tips for CRP Reporting Read More »
Needing a little yellow in your CRP seed mix? Then cup plant is a great choice. Officially known as Silphium perfoliatum, cup plant comes from the same family as daisies. While daisies are known for their white petals and yellow center, cup plant’s entire flowerhead is a vibrant yellow. Cup plant also grows much taller than daisies, reaching
Cup Plant – A Vibrant Addition for Pollinator Habitat Read More »
Establishing native grasses through CRP provides many benefits for both landowners and the environment. Native grasses protect soil from wind and rain while allowing it to regenerate precious nutrients. They also keep local water clean by reducing runoff. Meanwhile, local wildlife such as deer and pheasants depend on native grasses for shelter and food. Once
Cool Season Grass vs. Warm Season Grass for CRP Read More »
The 14th annual National Pollinator Week is taking place from June 22-28, 2020. This is a chance to show appreciation and raise awareness for the pollinating species in the US. Without the presence of pollinators like bees, butterflies, birds, and even moths, farmlands would suffer from smaller yields and lower quality crops. Inadequate pollination can affect the size and also the flavor of food crops. And so, it’s important
Celebrate Pollinator Week by Creating Pollinator Habitat Read More »
With its distinct spikelet tips that split from its stem like little turkey feet, Andropogon gerardi is the most prominent plant of America’s tallgrass plains. Of course, most people know it as big bluestem. Not to be confused with little bluestem, which we discussed last week, big bluestem is an entirely separate type of warm season bunchgrass. As you might
Big Bluestem – A Tall, Thick Bunchgrass That’s Great for CRP Read More »
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