The State Game and Fish Department may have some program options that could help North Dakota landowners who want to enroll land in the federal Conservation Reserve Program.

For the first time in more than two years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has opened a general CRP enrollment period, which began Dec. 1 and runs through Feb. 26. Like the last general enrollment, applications received during the signup period will be ranked against others according to an Environmental Benefit Index.

Kevin Kading, Game and Fish private land section leader, said there are some EBI factors that producers can influence. “Cost share is where we can help,” Kading emphasized. “Landowners can offer a higher diversity grass mix, like pollinators, which can improve the EBI. We can help with the costs associated with that higher diversity mix and offer additional incentives if producers are willing to enroll the land into the Department’s Private Land Open to Sportsmen walk-in access program.

Currently, North Dakota has about 1.2 million active CRP acres, with about 39,000 acres set to expire in 2016, and 345,000 acres expiring in 2017.

Game and Fish Department private land biologists and conservation partners, such as Pheasants Forever farm bill biologists and county Soil Conservation District farm bill specialists, can help landowners find the best possible combination of factors that could positively influence their EBI score and increase the likelihood of acceptance into the program.

Several workshops for landowners will be scheduled through various conservation partners around the state in late January and early February. More information on those workshops will be available on the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov.

Again this year, Game and Fish can make arrangements with contractors to assist producers with land preparation, grass seeding and CRP management.

The following biologists can provide for more information about the general signup, and opportunities with the Department’s PLOTS program.

 

NDGF Private Land Biologists

Jaden Honeyman, Dickinson – 260-3546 (Adams, Hettinger, Grant, Sioux,  Stark, Slope, Bowman and Golden Valley)

Levi Jacobson, Bismarck – 527-3764 (Burleigh, Emmons, Kidder, Oliver and Morton)

Andrew Ahrens, Devils Lake – 662-3617 (Bottineau, Rolette, Towner, Cavalier, Ramsey, Pembina, Walsh, Grand Forks, Nelson)

Todd Buckley, Williston – 774-4320 (Divide, Burke, Williams, Mountrail, McKenzie)

Terry Oswald, Jr., Lonetree – 324-2211 (Sheridan, Wells, Eddy, Foster, Benson, Pierce)

Renae Heinle, Jamestown – 253-6480 (Stutsman, Barnes, Lamoure, Dickey, Sargent, Griggs, Cass, Richland, Ransom, Steele, Traill, McIntosh, Logan)

Ryan Huber, Riverdale – 654-7475 (McLean, Mercer, McHenry, Ward, Renville)

Todd Gallion, Lake Ilo NWR – 548-8110 (Dunn, Billings)

 

ND Association of Soil Conservation Districts Farm Bill Specialists

Adam Haut, Napoleon – 701-754-2234 (Kidder, Logan, McIntosh and Emmons)

Cody Hoggarth, Jamestown – 701-252-2521 (Stutsman, Barnes, LaMoure)

Luke Gilbert, Turtle Lake – 701-448-2474 (Burleigh, McLean and Sheridan)

Position vacant, Hettinger – 701-567-2661 (Adams, Bowman, Slope, Hettinger)

 

Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists

Justin Edwards, Mandan – 701-667-1163 ext. 3 (Mercer, Morton, Oliver and other western counties)

Jordan Croatt, Forman – 701-724-3247 ext. 114 (Sargent, Richland, Ransom, Dickey)

Brandon Meyer, Devils Lake – 701-662-4088 (Benson, Nelson, Ramsey)

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds winter anglers to clean up the ice after fishing. This not only applies to trash, but fish as well.

It is not only unsightly, but it is illegal to leave fish behind on the ice. According to the fishing proclamation, when a fish is caught anglers must either immediately release the fish back into the water unharmed, or reduce them to their daily possession.

It is common practice for some anglers to fillet fish on the ice, which is fine, as long as fish entrails and other parts are taken and properly disposed of at home.

In addition, all trash, including aluminum cans and Styrofoam containers, should be packed out and taken home.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will have 281 any-deer bow licenses available to nonresidents in 2016.

The deadline for applying is March 1. A lottery will be held if more applications are received than licenses available. Any remaining licenses after March 1 will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants can apply together as a party. A separate check is required for each application.

The nonresident any-deer bow application is available at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The application must be printed and sent in to the department.

The number of nonresident any-deer bow licenses available is 15 percent of the previous year’s mule deer gun license allocation. The Game and Fish Department issued 1,875 antlered mule deer licenses in the 2015 deer gun license lottery.