The established mowing dates are Aug. 1 to 31. The reason for the late mowing dates is so ground-nesting birds do not have their nests destroyed during the brooding season.

Mowing is not required, but woody vegetation is not permitted on Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program cropland acreage.

If CREP participants follow their conservation plans, woody vegetative growth will not be an issue.

CREP acreage can be mowed every year around the perimeter of the field along the wood lines at 25 feet wide. CREP mowing in the field can only account for one-third of the acreage. In other words, mow a different one-third each year. That way, all the acres are mowed once every three years, prohibiting woody vegetative growth.

Noxious weeds, such as Canadian thistle and multiflora rose, must be controlled on CREP acreage, but mowing especially during August will not control noxious weeds.

CREP participants, especially those with buffers along creeks, will need to be vigilant in monitoring noxious weeds and use a herbicide application to kill them.

There are a few good herbicide recipes that do an excellent job at a reasonable price. However, participants already receive a maintenance payment as part of the annual rental rate, so there should be no excuse for not controlling noxious weeds. Participants who are physically unable to perform maintenance activities should hire someone to complete the spraying.

The Farm Service Agency and personnel from the Natural Resources Conservation Service will perform spot checks on randomly selected farms.

Although there are many farms enrolled or waiting to be enrolled, total contract acreage is only about 3,800 acres for Butler, Beaver and Allegheny counties. Most of the CREP contracts have been for buffers along the creeks to prohibit livestock. Very few whole farms have been enrolled, which is evidence CREP works well for active producers.

Anyone with questions on CREP mowing or any other CREP issues should contact the office for more information at 724-482-4800, Ext. 2 or 724-775-2369, Ext. 2.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.