Overview

Cropland value to wildlife varies through the year; conservation tillage (no‑till) enhances water quality and habitat structure, retains waste grains, and increases invertebrates used by broods. Field borders and ditch‑bank buffers transform low‑yield edges into productive wildlife habitat and can be eligible for conservation payments. 

Cropland is a valuable commodity for both the landowner and the farmer that tends the land. In the past, small farms were scattered across North Carolina. The day to day management of these farms resulted in hedgerows, fallow fields and “weedy” edges which were great for wildlife. Today, modern equipment, herbicides, economic factors and public perception result in few fallow areas in the agricultural landscape. To enhance habitat on cropland, a concerted effort must be made by private landowners. Options exist to enhance wildlife habitat no matter if habitat or production is your primary objective. Consider the following information if you are interested in improving wildlife and pollinator habitat on your working cropland.

Wildlife Focus

Landowners who are primarily concerned with wildlife habitat should consider identifying portions of their property which can be dedicated to habitat management. These areas could consist of blocks, corridors or entire fields where vegetation will be managed to maintain habitat for desired wildlife species. Early succession species may be planted in these areas, or fallow vegetation may be managed to enhance habitat.  The most difficult part of managing early successional habitat on private lands is often getting the landowner to accept that high quality habitat may look unkept. “Edges”, or boundaries between one or more habitat types, are important for many species, so landowners should consider the needs of the species they wish to benefit. For example, some species prefer multiple small areas of edge rather than one large area.

Production Focus

Several practices can be implemented when a landowner desires habitat enhancement but requires continued production from their cropland. 

  • Dedicated habitat areas can be established. Native grasses such as little bluestem, indiangrass, switchgrass and tridens purpletop can be established as well as wildflowers. When possible, utilize odd areas of a field which may be difficult to farm. Fallow vegetation can be managed in these areas if planting is not desired.
  • Incorporate native plant species into conservation practices such as grassed waterways, filter strips and buffers. These practices already protect water quality and reduce soil erosion, incorporating native grasses and wildflowers can add wildlife and pollinator benefit as well.
  • Limit the mowing and management of waterways, filter strips and buffers during the nesting season. Allowing this vegetation to stand through the spring and early summer will allow many species of wildlife to raise their young. When possible manage vegetation only once every other year to allow for brooding and winter cover. 
  • Establish buffers along ditches and control ditch bank vegetation with selective herbicides rather than sidearm mowers. Ditch buffers will protect water quality and help remove nitrates from surface water. They will also reduce sedimentation of the adjacent ditches, thus increasing the interval between costly ditch cleanings.   
  • Utilize no-till planting and cover crops whenever possible. Not only does no-till planting and cover crops benefit soil health, moisture retention and weed control, maintaining the crop residue can benefit wildlife. Invertebrates such as worms, grubs, insects and larva thrive in this residue. The invertebrates are a critical source of protein for many species of birds during the brooding process. Without protein, young may experience improper development or starvation. 

Best Management Practices

  • Field borders
  • Fallow disking
  • Ditch‑bank buffers
  • Contour strip cropping
  • No‑till

Species That Use This Habitat

Key Ecological Features

  • Residue and waste grain support birds and small mammals. 
  • Ditches act as narrow wetlands and travel corridors. 
  • Borders and contour strips add nesting/roosting cover and filter runoff. 

Management Strategies

General Wildlife Management

  • Implement field borders (30–120 ft) aligned parallel to rows; maintain with spot‑spray and 2–3‑year disking. 
  • Manage ditch banks: back crops off to create ≈20‑ft buffers; mow high (10–12") and in alternate years; use aquatic‑labeled herbicides to selectively remove trees. 
  • Adopt no‑till to retain residue and reduce erosion. 

Species‑Specific Approaches

Quail

Borders, fallow disking strips, woody escape thickets every ≤100 yards.

Doves

Time crop preparation so seeds peak near hunts; expose seed on bare ground. 

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