ATTENTION FARMERS Producers for Cooperative Agriculture ... · south side. Each is unique in the...

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ATTENTION FARMERS

Refuge Complex Seeks Agricultural

Producers for Cooperative Agriculture

Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking agricultural producer(s) (cooperators,

farmers, or cooperative farmers) for Cooperative Agriculture Agreements (CAAs) at the

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex (Complex) in Alabama. Cooperators will

grow crops on Wheeler NWR for a period of five years and Key Cave NWR for a period of

five years, with the agreement renewed annually, as a Cooperator with the USFWS.

An interested person must fill out applicable portions of FWS Form 3-1383-C (see

https://www.fws.gov/forms/3-1383-C.pdf) (see Appendix I for further information) and provide

answers to the supplemental application questions to apply (Appendix II). The applicant

must address how he will meet the criteria outlined in the announcement and identify a

specific farm or farms of interest.

Background

The Complex is located in central and north Alabama and is comprised of seven refuges,

including Wheeler and Key Cave NWRs. Wheeler NWR is managed primarily to provide

important habitat needs for resting, feeding, and pair bonding activities of waterfowl, other

birds, and resident wildlife. Key Cave NWR is managed to conserve listed species associated

with the cave that provides its name. The farming program is geared toward management of

the Bobwhite Quail and other resident and migratory bird species as well as to enhance

recreational hunting opportunities. There is a long history of farming for wildlife on Wheeler

NWR and Key Cave NWR has been farmed since its establishment.

Our goal for farming at Wheeler NWR is to provide energy rich agricultural crops for

waterfowl, which together with wetland management and sanctuary, contributes towards a

healthy, viable waterfowl population. agricultural crops provide the greatest energy density

food for waterfowl. Efforts on this refuge are in support of the North American Waterfowl

Management Plan and its associated step-down plans. Our goal for Key Cave NWR, as noted

above, is to supplement food sources for quail and other migratory birds. This is in support of

the National Bobwhite Quail Conservation Initiative. Cooperative agriculture can also help

control invasive plant species, support local economies, and demonstrate good land

stewardship. The Cooperative Agriculture Program for the Complex is guided by the

Comprehensive Conservation Plan, managed by the Complex, and ensured to benefit fish and

wildlife through this process.

Proposed Cooperative Agriculture Agreement

Agricultural producers are being sought for seven farms on Wheeler NWR located mainly in

Limestone and Morgan Counties, with a small amount of acreage of one farm (8764) in

Madison County. A very general description of the farms, a map of fields (only one field in

the case of one farm), and an associated table of field acreages are located below. Farms in

Morgan County, which are located on the south side of the Tennessee River, are required to

plant some or all refuge crop shares in Limestone County, which is on the north side of the

river. Each farm will be managed for five years under a separate Cooperative Agricultural

https://www.fws.gov/forms/3-1383-C.pdf

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Agreement (CAA) with annual updates/work plans required to address crop rotation, soil

conditions, local issues such as flooding, and other factors.

Cooperative farmers are being sought for one farm on Key Cave NWR located in Lauderdale

County. Below there is a general description of this farm, a map of the fields, and an

associated table of field acreages following the information for Wheeler NWR farms. As is

the case with the farms on Wheeler NWR, that on Key Cave NWR will be managed under a

five year CAA with annual updates/work plans required. However, the agricultural fields on

this refuge may be planted to native warm season grasses during this five year period. The

farmer will provide in-kind services (for example, field preparation; purchase of seed,

chemicals, and other supplies; spraying; and planting) in lieu of and equal in value to shares

of crops that would normally be provided to the refuge. This conversion may occur over a 2-3

year period with the farmer required to plant the acreage remaining as agricultural field in

year one and, if needed, year two. In-kind services will be based on the value of refuge shares

that would have been taken on all remaining agricultural fields.

Prospective cooperative farmers must apply by completing FWS Form 3-1383-C

(Commercial Special Use Permit application). Selected Cooperators will enter into an initial

CAA with the refuge. Beginning with the first year and each year thereafter a Plan of

Operations (PO) will be signed by both parties. This PO will include information specific to

each year, such as crop types to be planted in each field and approved pesticides and related

chemicals. Several appendices to the PO will further define the process by which the program

will be administered and further delineate the requirements and restrictions of the USFWS

and the Cooperator. Any needed changes will be incorporated in the annual PO. The first one

will be developed during the late summer or fall of 2019. This one must be signed and dated e

and a permit issued by the refuge before the CAA is considered complete. Subsequent POs

will be signed in the fall and winter as well. Farming operations cannot commence each year

until the PO for that year is signed and dated by both parties.

General Operating Requirements

Below are just a few of the operating requirements which will also be covered in detail

in the PO. Some are not typical of general farming practices in the area. An example of a

PO may be viewed at the refuge office or Visitors Center in Decatur, Alabama.

Relatively minor changes to this may be made prior to finalization. However, this will

give one an idea to the extent farming the refuge differs from private land.

● Annual POs are required for addressing current objectives, opportunities,

restrictions, and other details, and may be amended through consensus by both the

Project Leader (manages both Wheeler and Key Cave NWRs) and cooperator.

However, the Project Leader has the final decision making authority about farming

on both refuges. POs and amendments become attachments to and part of the CAA.

● Either the refuge or farmer may initiate an amendment(s) to the CAA to insure the

refuge lands meet their resource management objectives or to insure the cooperator

is attaining his incentives for engaging in cooperative agriculture on the refuge. The

amendment(s) must be documented in writing and signed and dated by both the

refuge representative and farmer.

● Cooperator agrees to a 80/20% share-split farming agreement. The Refuge share of

the crop (20%) will be left in the field with locations to be determined by the Project

Leader or his/her designee. In some cases shares may be increased if the cooperator

is unable to fulfill his requirements for refuge shares. For example, more shares of

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millet will be required if the farmer is unable to plant corn shares. The cooperator

for one farm (6322) on Wheeler NWR will have to harvest and bring to the refuge

shop area about 100 bushels of corn annually or a little more every other year. In-

kind services may be required in lieu of leaving crops for refuge shares. The value of

these services will be equivalent to that of the crops which would have been left as

refuge shares in the fields.

● The refuge only provides land for farming. There is no cost-sharing for that needed

to properly plant and maintain the crop, including, but not limited to, chemicals,

seed, and soil amendments. All labor and equipment is also provided by the

cooperator.

● POs will renew no later than April 1 each year, for up to 5 years. The farmer will

typically meet each year with a refuge staff member to discuss the PO. Pertinent

refuge staff normally meet with all cooperators once each year to discuss changes to

the operations, issues, and related matters.

● Use of genetically engineered crops (GMCs), for example Roundup Ready,

and neonicotinoids are currently prohibited.

● All pesticide use must be pre-approved. Some pesticides requested by the farmer may

not be approved for use on the refuge. Currently, active ingredients such as glyphosate

may not be sprayed on crops since GMC use is not approved but may be used for burn

down prior to planting.

● Cooperators must follow the specific application requirements provided by the refuge.

These may be more restrictive than pesticide labels.

● All requested information must be provided to the refuge by set deadlines. Examples

include requests for pesticides the farmer wishes to use the following year, information

related to what pesticides they used the current year, crop yields, and amendment

application information.

● All liability relating to farming and crop management to include all persons working

for the Cooperator, whether related, hired, or as a partner is strictly that of the

Cooperator.

● Farming privileges may not be sold, transferred, or sublet.

● Non-use of farm lands, in whole or in part, shall be cause for cancellation

of a Cooperator's privileges at the discretion of the Project Leader.

● The refuge or the cooperative farmer may terminate the CAA with 45

days’ notice or elect not to renew the agreement at the end of the farming

year if either party is not carrying out his roles and responsibilities under

the CAA. The refuge may immediately terminate the CAA if necessary to

protect human or wildlife health and safety.

● After the term of the CAA has ended, the refuge may review the

opportunity for cooperative agriculture for renewal. If it will be renewed,

the refuge must publish a notice and award the CAA again using the same

or similar process to this one. Successful cooperators will be encouraged

to apply again at that time.

Cooperator Selection

Cooperator(s) will be selected through an open and competitive process where applications

will be scored and ranked mainly using the answers provided to the supplemental questions

provided in Appendix II. Additional information related to these questions will also be used

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when ranking applications. General categories are related to the following:

● Experience in cultivating the types of crops grown on the refuge, including

conventional varieties (non-GMCs with no neonicotinoid pesticides).

● Ownership or ready access to the proper equipment, materials, labor, or other

resources to participate in the Cooperative Agriculture Agreement.

● Ability to provide in-kind services – conduct activities like mowing, disking,

and erosion mitigation in lieu of and of equal value to the refuge shares of crops

they replace.

Other relative criteria provided elsewhere in the application will be utilized if applicants score

equally when graded using the above. The refuge intends through this competitive process to

select multiple farmers but this may or may not equate to a different cooperator for each of the

eight units on the Complex.

Parcels Available

Eight separate CAAs are available on the Complex, seven on Wheeler NWR and one on Key

Cave NWR. Below is very general information about what is available on each refuge, small

scale maps of the fields on each farm, and a table associated with each farm that shows field

acreages. More details on the fields included in each parcel are available.

Wheeler NWR Farms

Wheeler NWR is a relatively narrow band of land that extends for nearly 20 miles on both

sides of the Tennessee River and its tributaries. There are four farms on the north side of the

river (Farms 8788, 8764, 8170, and 8140) and three (Farms 6320, 6321, and 6322) on the

south side. Each is unique in the number of fields, farm acreage, field conditions and, perhaps,

distinctive requirements (for example, one Wheeler NWR farmer has to harvest a little corn

and bring it to refuge grain bins). Since the refuge is located along the river it has many fields

in bottomlands. The number and acreage vary with each farm. The farms on the south side of

the river have some fields that are located on the north side. Thus, anyone agreeing to work

one or more of these farms will have to do so on both sides of the river without additional

compensation or consideration. Primary crops allowed for cooperative agriculture on Wheeler

NWR include corn, soybeans, winter wheat, milo (sorghum), and millet. Not all crops, for

example winter wheat, may be permitted on all farms. Historically, refuge shares have

included corn, milo, millet, and winter wheat and the farmers generally harvested corn,

soybeans, and winter wheat. The refuge does not have capability to irrigate crops. The refuge

participates in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program. The

Limestone County FSA Office in Athens oversees the program on the north side refuges and

the Morgan County Office in Hartselle those on the south side (including fields on the north

side of the river that are part of each south side farm). Below are maps and tables of field

acreages for each farm beginning with those on the north side of the Tennessee River.

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1Farm 8788 Fields and Their Acreages in 2019

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

FARM TRACT FIELD ACRES

8788 10786 1 8.9

8788 10786 2 6.3

8788 10786 3 18.3

8788 10786 4 2.7

8788 10786 5 1.1

8788 10786 6 2.5

8788 11424 10 20.6

8788 10793 1 25

8788 10822 1 44.5

8788 10893 1 8.7

8788 10893 2 17.5

8788 10798 1 9.8

8788 10810 1 21.4

8788 12668 1 11.1

8788 12669 2 32.3

Total acreage 230.7

1Does not include field buffers (refuge may require

the farmer to plant refuge shares of crops in field

buffers.).

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8764 13160 1 21.6

8764 13160 3 3.2

8764 13160 4 7

8764 13160 5 4.7

8764 13160 6 6.6

8764 13160 7 1.1

8764 13160 8 11.8

8764 13160 9 18.3

8764 13160 10 19.8

8764 10891 1 19.5

8764 10891 2 63.4

8764 11425 1 10.7

8764 11425 2 20.5

8764 11425 3 26.5

8764 11425 4 10.1

8764 11425 5 9.4

8764 11425 6 10.1

8764 11425 7 3.6

8764 11425 8 48.5

8764 11425 9 29

8764 11425 11 45.8

8764 10789 1 22

8764 10789 2 6.3

8764 10792 1 127.7

8764 10799 1 36.4

8764 10799 2 52.2

8764 10801 1 10.3

8764 10801 2 2.8

8764 10801 3 22.7

8764 10801 4 7.9

8764 10801 5 5.8

8764 10805 1 11.8

8764 10805 2 6.3

8764 10805 3 1.5

8764 10805 4 12.5

8764 10805 6 38.2

8764 10805 7 18.3

8764 10805 8 11.1

8764 10805 9 58

8764 10805 10 31.3

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8764 1271 1 13.5

8764 1271 2 2.5

8764 1271 3 3.7

8764 1271 4 4.1

8764 1271 5 1

8764 1271 6 4.4

8764 1271 14 138.1

8764 12671 5 33.4

8764 12671 6 38.8

8764 12671 7 5.3

8764 12671 8 1.1

8764 10808 1 10.2

8764 10808 2 3.7

8764 10808 3 9.4

8764 10808 4 6.5

Total Acreage 1150.0

1Does not include field buffers (refuge may require the

Farmer to plant refuge shares of crops in field

buffers).

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8170 10796 1 77

8170 10796 2 37.4

8170 10796 3 5

8170 10796 4 6.8

8170 10889 1 38.1

8170 10892 1 55.4

8170 10892 2 3.7

8170 10892 3 7.8

8170 10892 4 2.3

8170 10892 5 51.7

8170 10892 6 20.8

8170 10892 7 31.3

8170 10892 8 3.1

8170 10892 9 2.1

8170 11158 1 9.1

8170 11158 2 2.1

8170 11158 3 23.4

8170 11159 1 23.3

8170 11159 2 2.3

8170 11159 3 2.1

8170 11159 4 17.5

8170 12670 3 14.3

8170 12670 4 22.1

Total acreage 458.7


the farmer to plant refuge shares of crops in

field buffers.).

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1Farm 8140 Field and Its Acreage in 2019



8140 11822 1 50.5

Total acreage 50.5


the farmer to plant refuge shares of crops in the

field buffers.).

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1,2Farm 6320 Fields and Their Acreages in 2019



6320 9906 1 3.6

6320 9906 2 3.2

6320 9906 3 8.3

6320 9906 4 30.8

6320 9906 6 12.6

6320 9906 7 28

6320 9906 8 7.7

6320 9906 9 5.1

6320 9906 10 11.5

6320 9906 11 8.6

6320 9906 12 28.1

6320 9906 18 22.2

6320 9906 20 35.2

6320 9906 21 7.9

6320 9906 22 2.9

6320 9906 23 15.2

6320 9906 25 13.6

6320 9906 27 10.2

6320 9906 30 29.9

6320 10197 1 29

6320 10197 8 43.4

6320 10197 10 13.6

Total acreage 370.6

1Does not include field buffers (refuge may require the farmer

to plant refuge shares of crops in field buffers). 2The fields highlighted in yellow are only used for planting

Refuge shares. Crop shares for the refuge are not taken

from these fields. Thus, refuge shares are based on 284.6

acres. These three fields are on the north side of the

Tennessee River and all others are on the south side.

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6321 9904 1 24.7

6321 9904 2 4.6

6321 9904 3 16.2

6321 9904 4 32.6

6321 9904 5 16.5

6321 9904 6 21.9

6321 9904 7 35.1

6321 9904 8 27.5

6321 9904 9 47.7

6321 9904 10 14.9

6321 9904 11 5.5

6321 9904 12 6.4

6321 9904 13 22.3

6321 9904 14 7.5

6321 9904 15 11.5

6321 10200 4 7.6

6321 10200 1 43.8

6321 10196 4 15

Total acreage 361.3


the Farmer to plant refuge shares of crops in field

buffers). 2The fields highlighted in yellow are only used for

planting refuge shares. Crop shares for the refuge

are not taken from these fields. Thus, refuge

shares are based on 294.9 acres. These three fields

are on the north side of the Tennessee River and

all others are on the south side.

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6322 9905 1 17.1

6322 9905 2 9

6322 9905 3 6.9

6322 9905 4 12.4

6322 9905 5 6.4

6322 9905 6 7.6

6322 9905 7 11.2

6322 9905 9 18.9

6322 9905 11 6.3

6322 9905 12 8.2

6322 9905 14 18.3

6322 9905 15 38.8

6322 9905 16 29.7

6322 9905 17 30.3

6322 9905 19 62

6322 9905 20 49.4

6322 9905 21 17

6322 9905 22 8.3

6322 9905 23 28.4

6322 9905 24 9.4

6322 9905 25 8.7

6322 9905 26 2

6322 9905 27 1.7

6322 9905 28 15.8

6322 9905 29 16.4

6322 9905 30 22.5

6322 9905 31 4.1

6322 9905 32 7.3

6322 9905 33 4.7

6322 9905 35 59.8

6322 9905 36 23.9

6322 9905 37 7.2

6322 9905 38 4.3

6322 9905 39 34.6

6322 9905 40 2.8

6322 9905 41 1.5

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6322 9905 42 12.2

6322 9905 44 3.4

6322 10199 21 0.6

6322 10199 23 12.5

6322 10199 42 15.3 6322 10199 43 19.6

6322 10201 1 17.9

6322 10201 4 7.5

Total acreage 701.9

1Does not include field buffers (refuge may require the farmer to plant refuge shares of crops in

field buffers).

2The fields highlighted in yellow are only used for planting refuge shares. Crop shares for the

refuge are not taken from these fields. Thus, refuge shares are based on 628.5 acres. These six

fields are on the north side of the Tennessee River and all others are on the south side.

Key Cave NWR Farm

Key Cave NWR consists of 1,060 acres and is located near the northern shore of the Pickwick

Reservoir of the Tennessee River. There is only one farm on the refuge that consists of just under

295 acres of mainly upland fields. Primary crops allowed for cooperative agriculture in the

recent past on Key Cave NWR include corn, soybeans, and sunflowers. Refuge shares have

included corn, soybeans, and sunflowers and the farmers have generally harvested corn and

soybeans. The refuge may add winter wheat to the rotation. This will be especially needed when

it comes time to convert the farm fields to native warm season grasses because the refuge’s

shares will be taken in in-kind services needed to plant these grasses. The refuge does not have

the capability to irrigate crops. The refuge participates in the FSA’s PLC program. The

Lauderdale County FSA Office in Florence, Alabama oversees the program. Below is a map of

the farm fields along with a table of the field acreages.

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Farm 4379 Fields and Their Acreages in 2019

Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge


4379 12358 1 40.5

4379 12358 2 7.3

4379 12358 3 8.4

4379 12358 4 52.3

4379 12358 5 5.8

4379 12358 6 5.7

4379 12358 7 7.3

4379 12358 8 30.0

4379 12358 9 12.7

4379 12358 10 25.3

4379 12358 11 30.5

4379 12358 12 69.0

Total acreage 294.8

Applications

To apply, complete FWS Form 3-1383-C (Download at https://www.fws.gov/forms/3-1383-

C.pdf) and add responses to the supplemental application questions (Appendix I below).

Hard copies can also be picked up at the Complex Headquarters located at Wheeler National

Wildlife Refuge, 2700 Refuge Headquarters Road, Decatur, Al 35603 or at the Complex’s

Visitors Center, 3121 Visitor Center Road in Decatur. Hard copies can be requested by

calling the refuge office at 256-353-7243 or emailing [email protected].

Applications are to be submitted to the Refuge Headquarters in a sealed envelope marked

Cooperative Agriculture Application, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, 2700 Refuge

Headquarters Road, Decatur, AL 35603. Envelopes may be submitted either by mail or hand

delivered to the refuge office. Applications may also be emailed to the Wildlife Biologist at

[email protected]. Applications must be received by 3:30 p.m., Friday, July 26, 2019.

All applications will be opened and evaluated, and the individuals with the highest ranked

proposal for each farm will be notified within 14 days of their selection. Unsuccessful

applicants will also be notified.

A pre-application meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at the Wheeler

NWR Visitors Center, 3121 Visitor Center Road, Decatur, Alabama 35603. This will include

a visit to several farm fields on this refuge to view representative fields. Prospective

applicants are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting. Visits to fields on Key Cave NWR

are the responsibility of the applicant.

The following will be available for review at the Wheeler NWR Office and Visitors Center:

⮚ This Notice of Intent.

⮚ A FWS Form 3-1383-C (Commercial Special Use Permit application).

⮚ Example of a form to request for pesticides to be sprayed the next farming

season and another form for reporting pesticides used in the current season.

⮚ An example PO for a farm on Wheeler NWR.



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These packets of information cannot be removed from the Office or Visitors Center. However,

extra printed FWS Form 3-1383-C application forms along with the appendices to this Notice

of Intent will be available to assist with completion of the application.

Literature Cited

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental

Assessment for Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Jackson, Lauderdale,

Limestone, Madison, and Morgan Counties, Alabama. U.S. Department of the

Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region.

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APPENDIX I

Supplemental Instructions for Use of FORM 3-1383-C for

Applications for the Cooperative Agriculture Program on

Wheeler and Key Cave NWRs

PLEASE READ BOTH THIS APPENDIX AND APPENDIX II CAREFULLY BEFORE

FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION:

1. FORM 3-1383-C (Commercial Special Use Permit) is used by the refuge for both

applications for cooperative agriculture opportunities on the NWRS, as well as for

formalizing the Cooperative Agriculture Agreement on the Refuge.

2. At the time of application, the applicant does not need to complete all sections of the

Commercial Special Use Permit, but does need to ensure that they provide sufficient

information on their proposed operations for the Service to rank and score your

application based on the objective criteria listed in Appendix II below.

3. In addition, if applicable, please identify how your proposed activity is different from

the description of the cooperative agricultural opportunity outlined in this document.

This can be provided on a separate sheet of paper which is provided to the refuge with

the application. This along with the information addressing the supplemental application

questions (see Appendix II) should be attached to Form 3-1383-C as part of your

application package.

4. Write N/A in any sections that do not appear to be relevant.

5. Both the Plan of Operations (Section 18) and Logistics and Transportations (Sections

24a through 30) only need to be completed if you are selected as the Cooperator. These

sections will then be completed in coordination with the Project Leader prior to any

agriculture practices beginning on the refuge.

6. The signed and completed Commercial Special Use Permit and the Plan of Operations

(PO) will be the selected Cooperator’s authorization for access onto and use of NWRS

lands, resources and facilities.

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APPENDIX II

Supplemental Application Questions - Cooperative Agriculture Proposal

For Wheeler and/or Key Cave National Wildlife Refuges (NWR)

Applicant Information:

Name (Proposal Submitter)

Partner (if applicable)

Name of Business or Farm

Address

Telephone Number

E-mail address

Pesticide Applicators License #

____________________________________________________

Describe your background, knowledge and experience to meet the objective criteria by which

the USFWS will evaluate your application to farm one or more farms on Wheeler and/or Key

Cave NWRs. Each of the below numbered items will be used to score your application.

Failure to provide the information for one or more of these items will result in a lower score.

Those with the highest scores will be chosen to work each farm for which he has applied. The

refuge will choose multiple farmers to work farms on Wheeler NWR. Include the information

specified in small letters after each numbered general need. This information must be

included on additional pages to FORM 3-1383-C. When noted, provide the information

specific to the refuge(s) for which you are applying to farm (Wheeler NWR, Key Cave NWR,

or both). Be sure to note each refuge to which you are applying and then the specific

information to that refuge. For example, for 1.a. below if you are applying to work a farm(s)

on Wheeler NWR and Key Cave NWR, one answer might be:

1.a. Wheeler NWR – 12 years. I have not grown milo or millet. Key Cave NWR – 12

years.

1. Experience in cultivating needed crops, including on USFWS lands. Include the following

information:

a. If applying for a Wheeler NWR farm(s), the number of years cultivating high

energy grains (corn, millet, and milo). For applications for the Key Cave NWR

farm, number of years cultivating corn, soybeans, and sunflowers. Note if you

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have not grown one or more of the crops listed for each refuge for which you are

applying.

b. Number of years cultivating winter wheat.

c. Number of years cultivating the above crops within the Tennessee River Valley. In

the case of Wheeler NWR, also include the number of years cultivating these crops

in bottomlands. Also include which crops you have not grown in this valley and, in

the case of Wheeler NWR, in bottomlands.

d. Number of years Cooperatively Farming on USFWS NWR lands.

2. Demonstrated ability to successfully cultivate crops under current USFWS crop and

pesticide restrictions.

a. Number of years of experience cultivating non-genetically engineered /non-

transgenic crops.

b. Number of years involved in growing crops without the use of neonicotinoid

pesticides (most, but not all, are seed treatments used to kill insects).

c. Number of years recording and reporting information such as yields and amount

and type of pesticides used in an accurate and timely manner to a landowner(s).

3. Ownership or ready access to the type and number of farm equipment to properly

complete the cultivation of refuge preferred crops (Wheeler NWR – corn, soybeans, milo,

millet, and wheat and Key Cave NWR – corn, soybeans, sunflowers, and wheat).

a. List the number, size, and type of equipment owned or to which you have ready

access to perform all of the tasks needed to properly grow refuge preferred crops.

b. List other available resources for cultivating crops on the refuge, such as

manpower, trained crop scouts, and consultants used.

4. Ability to provide in-kind services, which are services that would be provided in lieu of

leaving refuge crop shares.

a. Number of years of experience and manpower and equipment available to perform

activities such as planting and/or maintaining vegetated buffer strips, mitigating

erosion, maintaining roads.

b. List benefits you are willing to provide in addition to providing crop shares or in-

kind services, such as mowing buffers or roadsides, maintaining field edges (for

example, pushing back encroaching shrubs and small trees), removing fallen trees

from fields and access roads, removing large debris that has floated onto refuge

fields, maintaining field drainage, and similar activities.

Those who have not farmed for the Complex in the past five years must provide at least three

references. In addition, they must provide the location of their farm operation (Note:

Preference given to cooperators within the local commuting area to ensure rapid response to

pest issues, flood conditions, well and/or equipment problems, timely planting and harvest,

meeting with refuge staff, etc.).

Failure to provide all of the information noted above will result in a lower score. Each applicant

may provide additional information related to the above questions that he feels will help the

refuge evaluate his application.

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