Landowners will be receiving notice in the next few days about tree pickup.  The information is listed below as well.

The Trees/shrubs you ordered from Pope SWCD will be ready to pick up between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27th and 8:00 a.m. and Noon on Saturday, April 28th. We will know if we have additional trees/shrubs right away. These will be available at pick up times.

Pick up will be at the Kelly and Audrey Erickson Farm 33125 State Hwy 28, Starbuck, MN 56381. A map of the pickup location printed below. We ask that you arrange to pick up your trees/shrubs at this time.

If you have an outstanding balance please pay for your trees/shrubs now, preferably by check. If you must pay on pick up day, please pay by check. Please note if you have paid in advance you will be able to go through the pickup process in an express line. Those who have a balance may have a longer wait time. If you have any questions or comments, you can call our office at (320) 634-5327.

From Glenwood/Starbuck: Take Hwy 28 W toward Morris go approximately 12 miles watch for tree pickup signs on South side of road. It is located about 4 more miles west of Starbuck on HWY 28, south side of the road.

Sincerely,

Kelly Erickson, Sales Program Manager

Are you looking to get an additional income from your conservation land? This spring you should look into enrolling into the Walk In Access Program (WIA). The primary objective of the Walk In Access Program is to provide new hunting opportunities on private lands currently enrolled in conservation programs with quality wildlife habitat, such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM), and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). Other natural lands may also be eligible for enrollment if high-quality habitat exists.

Once enrolled, the land is open to public hunting access during any open hunting season, including spring turkey. The location of areas enrolled will be publicized in an annual book and posted on the DNR website. Bright yellow-green signs will be installed along WIA boundaries once land is enrolled. WIA land is for hunting only. There is no target practice, trapping, dog training, camping, horseback riding, driving, or fires allowed on the property. Landowners are protected from liability, unlike private leases. Trespassing and hunting violations will be dealt with by DNR Conservation Officers.

Eligible sites must meet the minimum size of 40 acres. Acreage smaller than 40 acres may enroll if the land is contiguous with a Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), or another WIA resulting in at least 40 contiguous acres open to public hunting. Landowners sign into a one year or up to three year contract, with the ability to cancel the contract at any time without penalty.

Payment rates for signing up with the WIA program include:

• $10/acre base payment
• $1/ac. incentive payment if area is more than 140 acres
• $1/ac. incentive payment if land is located within a half-mile of other public hunting (WMA/WPA)

• $1/ac. incentive payment for a multi-year agreement.

So if you have land in CRP, RIM, WRP, CREP, or any other conservation program and would be interested in earning extra money from it please contact Nicole Brede with the Pope Soil & Water Conservation District. You can stop by our office or call us at 320-634-5327. We would be happy to answer any questions and assist with enrollment of your land. For more information, you can also visit www.mndnr.gov/walkin. Deadline for enrollment is April 27, 2018.