More Native Grass Drills Available In Tennessee

Through a Conservation Innovation Grant, part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, funds from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and from the Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture were matched by NRCS to purchase new native grass seed drills for 10 Soil Conservation Districts in underserved areas of middle and east Tennessee.

As the demand to plant native warm-season grasses for wildlife habitat, conservation practices, hay, pasture, and biofuels has grown, the need for more of these drills specialized to plant fluffy native grass seeds including big bluestem, little bluestem, indiangrass, along with the smooth-seeded switchgrass has likewise increased.

Statewide there are now at least 56 seed drills available for use by the public either through county Soil Conservation Districts, Co-ops, or the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). For a current listing of drill locations in Tennessee and contact information, visit the TWRA’s native grasses Web page.

For more information on cost-share and technical assistance available to help improve wildlife habitat and whole farm conservation, visit www.TWRAprivatelands.org.