Wild Rice for ducks

[LandDr]

We are harvesting wild rice right now and this is a great time to get some planted in your favorite duck hole. Since you are going out to the pond anyway, take some rice along and plant it.

Requires 12 to 36 inches of water depth and a muddy bottom...that is it. Just reach in the bag and throw the rice out over the water and it will self seed.

We planted a pond south of town last year as a scout project and it really took off...beautiful stand of rice! And there are more ducks in that pond now as well.

[broken_line]

where can i buy some of this rice?? i have an small 3 acre pond thats in conjunction with a lake.. it has carp in it.. think they will eat it?? if its relativly cheap it wouldnt bother me to much to toss some on a wma way in the back where most are to lazy to row to...

[RumRiverRat]

Is this legal?

[Quackaddict9]

Especially on WMA's?

I don't know anything about that though. But I can say hunting flooded rice fields is a blast!

[LandDr]

I will be happy to answer questions here and talk about your pond the the potential of success.

Wild rice is "native" to MN so it is legal...not baiting.

WMAs and WPAs or other government owned land...you should check with them first. There is a big push in MN to get our shallow lakes and ponds in better shape for ducks...so they may be happy to cooperate with you on a project. There are many many many ponds on state and federal land that are prime for introduction of wild rice, sago and shrimp...even more on private land!

If anyone has land that they would like to look at options for planting a crop and then flooding it out latter in the year once the crop has matured...give me a call and we can discuss. We need more demonstration sites like that around the state. They flood crops on the east coast, west coast and down south...but people just don't think of that option around here. It is incredible what a flooded crop field can do!

Thanks for the comments and questions.

[RaininFeathers]

My dad and I talked to the DNR because we were going to start planting ponds and they said that it won't grow year after year unless it has moving water. That is why you only see it on larger lakes or rivers. Do you think a small pond will keep a good rice crop for years to come?

[Jmnhunter]

where can i buy some of this rice?? i have an small 3 acre pond thats in conjunction with a lake.. it has carp in it.. think they will eat it?? if its relativly cheap it wouldnt bother me to much to toss some on a wma way in the back where most are to lazy to row to...

if it has carp in it, dont even bother, they wont let the rice grow

[LandDr]

The need for running water is a myth. My pond does not have running water and the rice comes back year after year since about 1992.

There is a small land locked pond on the north side of Hwy 28 between Sauk Centre and Westport...that one was planted about 3 years ago and the rice comes back every year. North of Sedan, MN where the road goes between the ponds we planted that one about 3 or 4 years ago and the rice is doing great.

I have many many examples of land locked ponds or small lakes with no running water where the rice is doing great.

Rice likes slow moving water but it does not require it. It does require 12 to 36 inches of water depth and a muddy bottom.

Thanks for the questions.

[Scott M]

Just to add to what landdr said, it does take a certain kind of waterbody. Nutrient rich, soft bottoms, running waters aren't required but preferred, and there can't be a lot of disturbance, whether from boat traffic, muskrats/beaver, or rooting fish like carp. It's an annual so it needs to go to seed every year...here in south central Minnesota I've only seen about two lakes that have stands of wild rice. It seems to do best in mesotrophic lakes and seems hard to establish in many of the conditions that characterize eutrophic, southern Minnesota waters.

[guppie]

What kind of rice does a guy need for planting and where can I get it? Can I just go buy a bag of rice off the shelf and spread it in the water?

[Lonedrake]

Landdr,

Are you also knowledgeable about building/restoring ponds and what the wetland laws are for type 2 wetlands?

[LandDr]

The rice on the shelf has been "processed"...heated and prepared which killed the germ so it won't grow. Tastes great though!

You need "green" rice...that term is used for rice that was harvested and not prepared...but rather kept cool and wet. Send me an email at [email protected] and I will give you some more info.

Just as da chise31 said, it can be harder to establish in lakes and ponds that are more eutrophic...which are usually more aged, cloudy (suspended solids), etc. which does not allow sufficient sunlight to get down to the seed for germination. Sometimes it works to plant into shallower waters however. Another option is to look for ways to reduce the turbidity into your pond or lake such as buffer strips, sediment basins and other conservation efforts. For southern MN, I would also highly recommend looking at options for flooding crop fields. There are so many shallow basins where sheet water could be placed in the fall for temporary waterfowl enhancements. I am sure all of you have seen what happens when you get heavy rains in the fall that floods fields...ducks everywhere! Why wait for it rain? There are several ways to create temperary sheet water in standing crop, harvested crop or slightly worked fields (listed from best to least). After it freezes...pull the drain and let the water drain away so the farmer has no issues come spring. It is a win-win!

I am a wetland specialist with a degree in aquatics with an emphasis in fisheries and waterfowl management. Doesn't mean I know everything however and will be the first to admit that. Why...what do you have in mind for your type 2 wetland? I can certainly get you started. What county as well?

[Lonedrake]

I live in Sherburne Co. I have about 15 acres of what is classified as type 2 wetland. Basically it is damp in the spring and dry the rest of the year. The water table apprears to be 3-4 feet below the ground right now. No water flows though so a dam is out. I am thinking about excavating a pond. I believe I would be exempt for up to 10,000 square feet as long as I place the soils outside the wetland. I could however be wrong!

In my mind....I want it bigger than that. But....thats a whole bunch of dirt....and I would have a hard time putting it somewhere....even with the right equipment.

Funds are tight so this is a future project. I would like to slope the pond so there will always be a water depth that the ducks prefer.Then plant wild rice/smartweed etc. Even build a gravel island. Maybe lay some logs in the water.Even plant wheat around one side of it. Hen houses. Wood duck boxes. Give them something all year.

This year this "wetland" produced zero ducks. Someday I would like to see it over 75.

[LandDr]

Lonedrake...it depends on what you want to see out there. You could certainly take the option of creating some deeper areas for more perm water and leave some shallower areas for the Sago and Smartweedd. I think you will see more ducks with that...but not a lot more...you are still dependant on rainfall and if or if it doesn't happen.

I would recommend a shallow well (sounds like the water is right there) with either a windmill pump or a 3 to 5 hp trash pump that you turn on and off occassionally. That will assure you of water.

But if you are going to put the well in, then I would maybe dig the deeper hole spots but I would definately plant millet late in the spring or early summer when the site is drier or drier...such as our Mallard Millet that is tolerant and prefers "damp" soils. Get that crop going and then turn the pump on just before duck opener. Make sure not to chop, knock down or manipulate the crop as that would be baiting. According to the information that I got from USFW HQ (in writing), flooding a crop field naturally or artificially is not baiting. Email me if you want a copy of this statement from them.

Hands down...flooding crops would be the best...but that will definately have a differant look than the perm water with the logs and duck houses.

If you plan on excavating in a wetland, make sure to stop by your local LGU for permits. The permits usually don't cost anything but you should start there. I think you are close on what you can do...but my understanding is that no more than .5 acre or 5% of the wetland basin can be impacted...which ever is LESS. Sounds like that might put you at the 5% rule but depends on if it is a closed wetland or a meanering wetland to calculate the 5%. Always get everything is writing...copy of the rules as well as permits that apply to your situation.

Keep us posted if you move forward with anything. We need more examples and demos of what can be done for waterfowl enhancement in the Midwest. I have worked with landowners on the east and west coast and down south and we need to bring some of those management techniques up here.

Thanks again!

ps...you might even be able to try domestic rice if you can start your pond at a few inches of water and then raise it as the rice grows. That would be interesting as well and we do that down south all the time. They used to do a lot of that around Red Lake for rice production but most of those patties are now gone...just a few left. Ever wonder why so many ducks used to come down central Minnesota? Try imagining several thousand acres of rice patties in northern Minnesota and what that did for bringing ducks down central minnesota! Wow! Some of those patties are for sale...dry and not being used...but for sale. Buy one, get the berms and pumps back in order, plant your rice and manage the water...and have a good time come fall duck season! Or...develop your own little flooded crop field right here in central and southern MN. Anyone in?

[Lonedrake]

Thanks! Its hard to find someone around here that even cares. Once I told the local Soil and Water I was not a farmer....it seemed like they lost interest.

I will just give you a call and set up a land assessment.The 300 bucks will probably save me 10 times that through trial and error.

[tweedlap]

Good stuff Landdr !

Thanks,

tweed

[LandDr]

You get it back as a credit anyway so ultimately it is free...just a means to motivate people to start doing something instead of just looking at the plan.

I used to work for most of those govt. organizations. I know what you mean...and then some. I thought Sherburne Co. was pretty into working with the small landowners now however since there are so many 10 to 40 ac. parcels due to development.

Meeting with a fella Saturday that is looking at buying some land for options to flood crops on it. He said he wants to be the "poster boy" example for flooding crops and what it can accomplish. I hope the property looks good so we can get some more demonstration sites going.

[LandDr]

I should also mention one other item...

Spoke to a fella today about his pond...about 6 acres with a maximum depth of 6 ft. and mucky bottom.

That is ideal! Mucky bottom is required and the water depths will allow rice to develop out to the 36 inch depth and then thin out up to 48 inches of depth.

I asked him about other vegetation was in the pond. He mentioned lilly pads. I asked him about hard stem or soft stem bullrush and described those plants to him...he said he had that as well.

I consider those plants "indicator species" that are often found in the same ponds as wild rice. In other words, if you have those plants, then most likely wild rice will take if you try planting it.

Sounds like he has a very high probability of getting rice to take and I hope he gives it a try. Any way, those are some things to look for when sizing up your pond. Does not mean you have to have those plants...but if they are present, then it tells you it could be very successful for supporting wild rice as well.

Have a safe watefowl opener!

[mudslinger]

Landdr,

I have seen some of your work and it looks great. Thick rice

[shnelson]

You've got me interested..

Will wild rice fair well in a spring fed pond (which is also connected to a stream that flows along side it) that floods every spring because of the river?

I've heard/read that the flooding will destroy its chances, but I think I could definitely turn this area into a waterfowl haven if the conditions were right!

Where can one obtain seeds for planting?

[LandDr]

Thanks mudslinger...

My wild rice pond is spring feed and the cool clean water is great for rice. It allows good sunlight to reach the bottom each year for great germination. Keep in mind that my pond is perm and always has around 4 to 5 feet of water in it.

You expressed that your pond "floods every spring". What depth is the pond for most of the year? Does it go dry or does water persist? When the pond floods in the spring, how deep does it get?

Flooding will only hurt the rice if the water level comes up over 36 to 48 inches and then stays deep for a long time. Temperary flooding followed by a draw down can help remove invasive less beneficial plants similar to a dry down and then reflooding.

Some of the MWA chapters have rice available. Send me an email at [email protected]

Thanks!

[BLACKJACK]

I've planted wild rice in most of my ponds and it grows well in a couple and not at all on a couple. This has been a bad year, so dry, not much of a stand.

landdr, your flooding planted crops/millet sounds sweet but the problem I run into on my land is that most of it has been put into CRP or has a wetland easement, meaning no field work allowed. Keep that in mind any of you that are developing ponds etc, if you want to 'manipulate' it, keep it out of goverment programs.

[LandDr]

That is very true...the programs can be very restrictive. CRP, RIM, etc. will usually allow you to create wetlands...but not change the water levels. They also restrict you to 5% of the total contract not to exceed 5 ac. for food plots...that can leave you really short on acres. I am running into that problem right now with a landowner who has just about everything in RIM.

However, even with the smaller acres for food, it is still better than not doing anything. You can also probably still do the water management just as long as you pay for the wetland earthwork yourself. If you have the govt. pay for it, then the water level will have to stay. That is how we are approaching the RIM project that I mentioned...the landowner is going to pay for all the earthwork...still in the preliminary aspects of that project however.

Minnesota duck hunters are missing the opportunity on managing flooded crops like they do out east, west and down south. We need more demonstrations projects. My land is all gravel and will not hold water so I am out of luck on that management tool and have focused on wild rice, sago, and shrimp which is working very well.

[tylor]

Landdr; If a person were looking to acquire land that could be used to make a flooded crop hunting situation and put a small cabin on, with budget being the primary consideration (willing to put in work where possible rather than spending money), what would you recommend? Parcel size, type, area of state, etc? Thanks.

[LandDr]

Sorry...missed the post...busy duck hunting.

Of course getting in the flyway is always optimum. But at this time that practically means out of state. Since out of state licenses may get costly along with travel...it may be best to just look in-state.

In Minnesota there are some great options. If you got a field in western MN or even southern MN with some depressional areas or drained areas that can be flooded, that would be a good option. Land down south will cost more than land out west or even up north.

One of the cheapest options for land would probably be up north. There are several abandoned rice fields for sale...currently dry and often in grass or volunteering brush. These used to be operating rice patties and duck magnets. With some work, these may be operational again for you to plant millet, corn, bean or even rice for fall flooding. I heard someone say these properties are going to $300 to $600 per acre. I see an issue that they will freeze up faster since they are further up north...but just add more water!

I think SW and S Central MN have some of the best opportunities due to the lay of the land, the fly-way and a little longer season due to a little warmer. Issue is the price of land.

Due to the price of land, it may be more cost effective to find a farmer that will take a thousand bucks and let you flood an area after he is done harvesting. Really...who is going around leasing crop fields? Some goose hunters but that is about it so you might have an easy opening. You will spend A LOT more than a thousand bucks on taxes if you own your own piece of land so maybe just lease a nice field that can be flooded.

If anyone has a field and would like some ideas, send me the township, range and section number and I will send a map back with a soils overlay with some areas and options to look at. It would be nice to get some demonstration sites going in Minnesota on this type of management...bring the ducks back!

Thanks for the question.