CRP - Converting to Cropland (Pacific Northwest)

...testing
the
mettle of
land stewards

Pacific Northwest...

These CRP-to-crop conversion (takeout) considerations focus on low rainfall, crop-fallow regions which contain about 80% of the CRP acreage, predominantly under crested wheatgrass.

Pre-Planning
Identify acres for crop production
Evaluate weed problems,
   particularly winter-annual grasses
and perennials
Evaluate residue and management
    needs
Decide on a spring crop or
   fallow-winter wheat for CRP
takeout in 1998
Consider a strip-cropping system
   for erosion control

Spring Preparation - 1997
Consider low application rate (6-8
   oz/A) of Roundup Ultra labeled for
   weed control in CRP to reduce
   weed seed production
Spot spray perennial weeds

Fall Preparation - 1997
Consider harrowing or flailing
   (when conditions are dry) to break
   up grass residue
Avoid intensive fall tillage (disking
   or plowing) or burning that would
   reduce overwinter soil water storage
Consider fall undercutter or sweep
   for no-till or minimum-till spring
   takeout for spring crops or winter
wheat on fallow in 1998-to reduce
   grass water use, and to reduce
   grass survival and root diseases in
   no-till spring crops
Fall herbicide kill of CRP grass is
   not effective (grass is dormant);
   wait for early spring
Spot spray appropriate perennial
   weeds

Spring Burndown - 1998
Options... Spring seeded crops
Apply 48 oz/A Roundup Ultra
   about 3 weeks before no-till
   seeding to reduce the "green
   bridge" potential for root diseases
Apply in early spring when grass
   has grown to 3-4 inches
Apply 20-32 oz/A Roundup Ultra
   as normal aid-to-tillage for
   minimum tillage
Use appropriate spring crop seed
   treatments for wire-worms, and
   root and seed rot diseases

Winter Wheat on Summer Fallow
Apply 48 oz/A Roundup Ultra for
   no-till chem-fallow (undercutter or
   sweep in fall 1997 could improve
   grass control with minimal soil
   disturbance for no-till or direct
   seeding)
Apply in early spring when grass
   has grown to 3-4 inches
Apply 20-32 oz/A Roundup Ultra
   as aid-to-tillage for minimum
   tillage and fallow
Under tillage takeout, consider
   undercutter or sweep as primary
   tillage

Summer - 1998
Use minimum-till fallow with
minimal rod weedings
Apply herbicides as needed to
chem-fallow

Fall - 1998
Use appropriate winter wheat
seed treatments for wireworms,
and root and seed rot diseases

A "controlled burn" of your CRP cover is quick, easy, cheap and effective, especially if excessive amounts (more than 8,000 lbs. per acre) of residue have accumulated. However, there are agronomic and environmental drawbacks to burning:
Standing residue and some
of the older residue on the soil
surface is destroyed, leaving
soils exposed to wind erosion
and surface soil aggregate
breakdown until regrowth.
Burning will not kill weed
seeds, the fire is not hot
enough at ground level.
Carbon is released into the
air, most of the nitrogen and
sulfur in the residue is lost
along with a significant
portion of the phosphorus.
A temporary soil crust may
develop in fine textured soils
that will reduce infiltration
of water and increase runoff.
Smoke from burning can
create a safety hazard near
highways and cause
temporary air quality
concerns near urban areas.
Be aware of potential state
laws and regulations which
may ban or limit burning.

Burning can be useful in renovating old stands of warm-season grass for forage production. Proper timing and soil moisture conditions are critical to allow for adequate regrowth before critical erosion periods.

"The grain is for the farmer and the residue is for the land."

-Carlos Crovetto, Grower and Author

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