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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What Makes a Good Pollinator Mix?

When it comes to establishing CRP, purchasing the right seed mix is very important. This is especially true for pollinator habitat. Not only do you need the seed to germinate, but it needs to attract pollinators once it’s grown.  To accomplish both of these goals, you need to select a quality CRP pollinator seed mix. What makes a good pollinator

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Understanding the Importance of Local Ecotype Native Seed

Selecting the right seed mix for CRP can be daunting. After all, you can’t plant just any seed. Only mixes Compliant with the NRCS can be used in the program. The mixes available to a particular contract holder vary depending on the conservation practice (CP) that they’re enrolled in.  Even within the same CP, however, there are a variety of seed

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