What Illinois Bundleflower Brings to CRP Seed Mixes

Need a good food source for wildlife to implement into your CRP seed mix? Illinois bundleflower is a great choice for contract holders across the Midwest and south-central states. Also known as prickleweed and prairie mimosa, this warm season perennial legume has good drought tolerance and can grow in most soils.  When fully grown, Illinois bundleflower can stand anywhere from 1-4 feet tall. Leaves grow in […]

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Deciphering CRP Seed Tags and Understanding the Importance of PLS

CRP seed tags are important. Not only are they required for you to receive your reimbursement from FSA, but they let you know what you’re actually planting on your land.  The first time you look at a seed tag, however, you might not understand what it all means. In addition to the seed name, variety, and origin, you’ll

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The Life Cycle of CRP Seeds

All plants are categorized under one of three life cycles: annual, biennial, and perennial. This not only determines how long they live but when they grow, blossom, and seed.  Most traditional farm crops are annual meaning they live out their entire life cycle in a year. Once planted, they begin to germinate and grow quickly. Within a few months, they reach full–height, bloom, seed,

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Black-Eyed Susan – A Great Addition to Pollinator Seed Mixes

Black-eyed Susan is a popular North American flower known for its bright yellow pedals and a dark, dome-shaped center from which its name is derived. The official name for black-eyed Susan is Rudbeckia hirta (though other flowers in the rudbeckia family are sometimes colloquially referred to as black-eyed Susan)      In addition to being the state flower of Maryland, black-eyed Susan served as

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Why CRP Seed Tags Matter

When you’re purchasing CRP seed mixes, it’s important that you select quality regionally adapted seed that’s applicable to the particular conservation practice that you’re enrolled in. But it’s not enough to simply know you purchased the right seed. You need proof.   This is where seed tags come into play.  Seed tags are pieces of documentation that should

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Deciding on a CRP Program

Enrolling in the Conservation Reserve Program is a great way to restore soil health while still earning money on your land. As if that weren’t enough incentive, CRP also greatly benefits local water supplies and wildlife.  Within CRP, however, there are actually a number of conservation practices (practices) to choose from. These determine the general focus, seed mix selection, and more. Choosing the best practice for

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Switchgrass – A Great Addition for Your CRP Seed Mix

Once upon a time, the Midwest was covered in a variety of thick, native grasses. These grasses protected and enriched soil while providing habitat for local wildlife. Today, those native grasses are used for the same purposes through programs such as CRP.   One of the most prevalent types of native grass then and now is panicum

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Palmer Amaranth in CRP Seed

Weed control is an important part of CRP establishment. Left unchecked, weeds will steal away valuable space and resources from your CRP seed. This doesn’t just hurt germination, it might also cause your establishment to fail altogether.  While many weeds can be dealt with through herbicide application and regular mowing, some prove more resistant. One of the most infamous weeds among

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What to Expect from the First Three Years of Native Planting

Establishing native seed can be a delicate process that differs from traditional crop planting in a number of ways. For those who are newly enrolled in CRP, you might not know what to expect. We regularly receive emails and calls from customers worried that they did something wrong or that the seed isn’t taking.  The answer is almost

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Milkweed – Great for Pollinators, Essential for Monarch Butterflies

Named for the toxic milky substance that leaks out when damaged, milkweed is a perennial flowering plant with a lot to offer. Its fibers (known as floss) have been used for insulation, pillow stuffing, string, rope, and more. Meanwhile, its flowers provide a great source of nectar for a variety of pollinators.  But its most crucial role is serving as the birthing ground for monarch butterflies.  The monarch butterfly exclusively

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