The Affects of Production Agriculture on Wildlife

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The Affects of Production Agriculture on Wildlife

• Original by Cliff Tippens
• Modified by the Georgia Agricultural Education
  Curriculum Office
• July 2004

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What is Production Agriculture??

• Production agriculture is raising domesticated
  plants and animals for the consumption of humans.
• Examples in Georgia
• Peanuts Cotton
• Peaches Cattle
• Poultry Corn

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The Foundation of AgricultureSoil

• Soil is the weathered outer layer of the Earths
  crust that supports life.
• Soil is NOT dirt!
• Dirt is simply soil that is out of place and
  cannot support life.

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The Ideal Soil Type

• 5 organic material
• 45 soil minerals
• 25 soil gases
• 25 soil water

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Soil Profiles

• A soil profile is a vertical view of the soils
  layers or horizons.
• Horizons are horizontal layers of soil that can
  be delineated by texture.
• A soil profile can be seen in road ditches and
  excavation sites.

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Soil Profile with Horizons
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Soil Texture

• Direct correlation to size of soil particles
• Sandcourse texture
• Siltmedium texture
• Clayfine texture

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Effective Rooting Depth

• Effective rooting depth is the measure of how
  deep plant roots can penetrate the soil.
• Sand often has the deepest ERD.
• ERD is affected if there is a hard pan or
  compacted layer of subsoil.

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Agricultural Uses of Soil

• Cropland is land on which the soil is worked and
  crops are planted, cared for, and harvested.
• Grazing land is planted in perennial forage in
  order for livestock to have free range.
• Forest are grown to provide humans with wood
  products such as paper and lumber.

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Cropland
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Grazing Land
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Forest Land
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Agricultures Adverse Affects on Wildlife

• Sedimentation of local streams from erosion of
  poorly managed fields.
• Mutation and other harmful affects of misuse of
  agriculture chemicals.
• Loss of habitat due to expansion of agricultural
  practices.

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Sedimentation

• Poor tillage practices result in loss of rich
  topsoil through erosion.
• Soil particles and chemicals such as pesticides
  and fertilizers are washed into local streams and
  other waterways.

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Erosion
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Affects of Sedimentation

• Lower dissolved oxygen levels
• Increased temperature
• Streams become narrow and slow moving which can
  increase chances of flooding
• Fertilizer runoff like nitrogen can cause algae
  blooms.
• Fish DIE!

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Practices to Counteract Sedimentation

• Plowing on the contour
• No till farming
• Terracing Fields
• Grass covered drainage ways
• Streamside Management Zones

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Agricultural Chemicals

• Fertilizers
• Nitrogen
• Pesticides
• DDT
• When used inappropriately, both have adverse
  affects on the environment.

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Results of Chemicals

• Nitrogen and other fertilizers can cause algae
  blooms and fish kills.
• DDT and other pesticides build up in plants and
  animals and cause unnatural mutations like
  thinner egg shells.
• DDT has been outlawed for use in the United
  States.

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Ways to Prevent Misuse

• Always follow instructions on chemicals.
• If not qualified, pay a professional.
• Only apply the required amount.
• Never over apply.
• Consult someone with experience.

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Habitat Loss

• 100 of humans are feed by 2 of the population.
• Farmland capacity is reaching its peek.
• Urban sprawl is forcing farmers to use all of
  the land available to them.

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Result

• Land that was once considered wildlife habitat
  is being converted into farmland.
• Wetlands are being drained to cultivate their
  rich soil.

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Wetland to Farmland

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Characteristics of a Wetland

• Hydric Soils
• Anaerobic conditions are present long enough to
  prevent iron oxidation giving the soil a gray or
  brown color.
• Hydrophytes Present Year-round
• Vegetation that grows in a wet environment like
  cat tail.

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Cat Tails
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Characteristics Continued

• Wetland Hydrology
• Water being present for extended periods of
  time.
• Hydrology varies depending on the type of
  wetland.

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Wetlands-Wonderful for People and Wildlife

• For People
• Filter pollutants from water
• Drainage into wetlands reduces risk of
  flooding.
• For Wildlife
• Excellent cover
• Rich Vegetation and food sources

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Managing a Farm with Wildlife in Mind

• Things to consider
• Desired species to manage
• Food
• Cover
• Shelter
• Water
• Cost of management

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Why Should We Care???

• Wildlife is key to a healthy ecosystem.
• Aesthetic value of wildlife
• Financial benefit of leasing hunting rights
• Hunting for sport or sustenance
• Responsibility

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Managing for Bobwhite Quail
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Cropland Improvements

• Disking of hedge rows, fence rows, and fallow
  fields
• Plant annual grains like corn, Egyptian wheat,
  and grain sorghum.
• Plantings should always be in strips and left
  fallow the next year.

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Grazing Land Improvement

• Heavy grazing by cattle on quail habitat
  detrimentally affects quail population
• Set aside field corners, fence rows, and
  drainage ways for quail habitat.

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Managing for the Mourning Dove
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Cropland Improvements

• Due to range of the Mourning Dove, localized
  management is more difficult.
• Leave strips of unharvested crops.
• Millet is preferred.
• Plant in strips.

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Managing for Ruffed Grouse
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Forestland Management

• Clear cutting
• Downed trees and other debris should be left for
  cover
• Edges are used for travel and cover

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Managing for Rabbits
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Cropland Improvement

• Allow corners and edges to grow in blackberry,
  honeysuckle, plum, or other dense vegetation.
• Allow cover stripes to go and allow the rabbits
  access to more of the field.

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Forestland Improvement

• Basal area of pines at 50 to 65 square feet per
  acre
• Small scattered openings throughout the stand
• Prescribed Burning

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Managing for the Gray and Fox Squirrels
Gray Squirrel
Fox Squirrel
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Forestland Improvement-Pine

• Leave hardwood corridors along streams.
• Clearcuts should be a maximum of 50 acres.
• Combine prescribed burning with thinning.

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Forestland Improvement-Hardwood

• Excluding fire
• Always leave at least one den tree for nesting
  while harvesting.
• Fertilize to increase mast production.
• Protect understory trees, shrubs, and vines.

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Wrap-up

• Agriculture can be harmful to wildlife.
• Habitat Destruction
• Sedimentation of waterways
• Misuse of Agricultural Chemicals

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Conclusion

• Agriculture and wildlife can co-exist.
• Farmers must manage their lands for the
  betterment of wildlife.
• Different species have varying needs of habitat,
  food, and cover.
• Wildlife can be managed to the benefit of all.