Hay field protection project in Michigan

[flushing bar project]

Folks,
I have an exciting project to share with farmers and hunters. As many of you know a lot of turkey, ducks and song birds nest in hay fields where they may fail to fledge young or even be killed by hay mowers. Changes in the way hay is managed lead us to look at new ways to deploy an old tool, the flushing bar. I am running a project for 2012 to try out some of these tools on fast modern mowers in 2012. You can track progress at the web site
http://www.theflushingbarproject.net
I hope to be able to accept contributions at this site later this month. I am still looking for farmers to participate, especially those running trailed disk mowers and swing tounge mowers. Bars will be provided free of charge and other practices are also available for cost share.
Mark P. Ludwig
> Allegan Conservation District
> Conservation Innovation Grant Technician
>
> Balancing Agricultural Production and Grassland Bird Reproduction
> 269-673-8965 ex 4
> 616-240-7135 cell
> mark.ludwig@macd.org
> The Flushing Bar Project - Designing Wildlife Protection for 21st Century
> Forage Mowers
>http://www.theflushingbarproject.net

[Gobblerman]

Welcome to the site, Mark. Great project,...and I hope it helps solve the problem. If you have not already contacted the NWTF about financial support for what you are doing, you should. Grants are available for this sort of thing, I believe.
Jim