Nestucca Bay National Wildlife RefugeCooperative Agriculture Program

Attention Farmers and GrowersRefuge Seeks Agricultural Producers for Cooperative Agriculture Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking an agricultural producer for a Cooperative Agricultural Agreement at Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) in Pacific City, Oregon. The producer will have use of up to 77.89 acres of lowland pasture on refuge land for a period of five years as a Cooperator with the Service. Applicants must complete applicable portions of FWS Form 3-1383-C and supplemental application questions. The producer must address in their application how the applicant will meet the criteria outlined in the announcement. Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department of the Interior.

Background

The Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1991, in part, to protect and enhance habitat for wintering geese. Managed refuge pastures receive sustained waterfowl use from fall through spring and provide quality forage, which improves waterfowl health and survival. Between 6,000 to 11,000 Canada geese of six subspecies, including 18% of the world’s population of the dusky Canada goose (a Federal species of concern) winter in the Nestucca Valley. The refuge’s goal is to minimize depredation on private pasturelands by maximizing waterfowl use on refuge lands. Refuge pasture management is based on recognition of the importance of short grass habitats to geese and a commitment to habitat protection for the mutual benefit of wildlife and the local dairy industry.

The purpose of grazing, mowing, haying, and green chopping (cutting silage for dairy cattle) on the Refuge is to effectively provide short grass habitat needed by wintering Canada geese. Grasslands on the Refuge are managed as pasture to provide forage for migratory and wintering waterfowl, primarily Canada geese. Carefully managed grasslands will continue to provide a significant source of the forage requirements of Canada geese on the Refuge. Through mowing, haying, silage, and grazing livestock, a desirable grass mixture of orchard grass, annual rye, and white clover will be maintained at a maximum of 2'' to 4'' in height by October 31 each year. Short grass (2'' to 4'') is the preferred habitat and desired vegetation height of foraging Canada geese. Refuge pastures will be tested periodically to determine soil condition and fertilizer needs to ensure proper growth and health of desired plant species. In addition, invasive plant species will be controlled using appropriate Integrated Pest Management techniques including mechanical/physical, chemical, biological, and cultural means as not to compete with desired plant species.

Service personnel have completed a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for managing the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The positive and negative effects of grazing and haying programs are

explored in depth in the CCP. In addition, a Pasture Management Plan has been completed for the Refuge and is a step-down plan of the CCP. The Pasture Management Plan provides management direction for pastures of the Nestucca Bay NWR by focusing on important groups of wildlife and their associated habitats identified in the CCP planning process. The Pasture Management Plan provides guidance to employ grazing and haying as habitat management tools, which may be used to meet resource management objectives on units of the National Wildlife Refuge System consistent with the Service’s Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health policy.

The CCP also defines the process by which the grazing and haying program will be administered and further delineates the requirements and restrictions and associated share-in-kind services in a Plan of Operations - Cooperative Agricultural Agreement (CAA). Under this CAA, current management practices will continue to be followed per CCP management direction.

The Proposed Cooperative Agricultural Agreement

The selected applicant will operate under a CAA as a “Cooperator” with the Service. Under the CAA, the Service is proposing that the Cooperator will be responsible for managing 77.89 acres of lowland grasslands as pasture on the Refuge (Figure 1), with a desirable grass mixture maintained at 2” to 4” in height to provide foraging habitat for migratory and wintering waterfowl by October 31 each year. The Cooperator will be allowed to manage the grasslands and harvest the forage produced by grazing, mowing, haying, and cutting silage between April 15 and October 31 of each year. Fields available for Cooperators under this CAA are 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25 (Figure 1).

General Operating Requirements: Stocking rates may be altered during the season should pasture conditions warrant (e.g. excessively

wet conditions or prescribed grass conditions met), dependent upon judgment of Project Leader (or designee).

Animals will be contained in assigned units. Fences must be maintained by the Cooperator, and shall be inspected and repaired before cattle are moved onto the Refuge. Any permanent fence constructed on National Wildlife Refuge System lands will become property of the Service.

The Cooperator shall comply with livestock health and sanitation regulations of the state of Oregon, where applicable.

All liability relating to livestock and livestock management to include all persons working for the Cooperator, whether related, hired, or as a partner is strictly that of the Cooperator as listed on the CAA.

The Cooperator must have or acquire liability insurance that covers the livestock being grazed on Refuge lands. A copy of the liability insurance must be provided to the Project Leader (or designee).

Cooperator is responsible for removing dead livestock carcasses from the Refuge and must notify Project Leader (or designee). All carcasses must be removed within 24 hours, unless other arrangements have been made with the Project Leader (or designee).

All equipment used in pasture management, including ATVs and UTVs, must be clean and free of invasive species plant material including seeds before entering any Refuge or Service easement. The

Project Leader (or designee) reserves the right to inspect and deny the use of any equipment/vehicle/horse etc. that appears to contain invasive species plant material or seeds. Equipment must meet all safety regulations and must be in good working condition.

Supplemental feeding is not allowed. Haying and grazing privileges may not be sold, transferred, or sublet, except by transfer to heirs in

the event of the death of the Cooperator. Non-use of grazing or haying privileges, in whole or in part, shall be cause for cancellation of a

Cooperator's privileges at the discretion of the Project Leader unless non-use has previously been approved.

All farming equipment, materials, and livestock are to be removed from the Refuge by October 31 each year, unless specifically authorized by the Project Leader.

An Annual Work Plan (in-kind service projects) will be developed by the Project Leader and the Cooperator prior to the period of operations.

The Cooperator will be responsible for maintaining boundary and internal fencing, gates, associated access points, ditches, and trails required to produce site specific grazing management, allow access to infrastructure, and provide wildlife census routes.

This section of the Refuge does not have water rights or available water for human or livestock consumption. If water is needed, the Cooperator is responsible for transporting or gaining access from local water supplies.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy prohibits the use of GMOs and neonicotinoids. All pesticides must be pre-approved under a Pesticide Use Permit (PUP) for the Refuge. The Cooperator is required to provide the Project Leader a pesticide use report by December 31 each year documenting any herbicide applications made on the Refuge. Proposed herbicides approved for use are:

1. Glyphosate in the Rodeo® (Dow) or Aquamaster® (Monsanto) type formulation (no surfactant included) with LI-700® (Loveland Products) added as the surfactant.

2. Triclopyr (triethylamine salt, or TEA). A trade name for triclopyr is Renovate® 3. The TEA formation of triclopyr is registered for use in aquatic or riparian environments.

3. 2,4-D aquatic liquid formulation containing the dimethylamine salt of 2,4-D (Trade names include DMA® 4 IVM).

Applications

The Cooperator(s) will be selected through an open and competitive process where applications will be scored and ranked by a panel including Service, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, and Oregon State University Agricultural Extension staff using the following criteria:

Experience in cultivating lowland pastures, especially personal experience on Refuge lands or comparable conservation land, including in-depth knowledge of soil composition, chemistry, moisture, fertility, water needs, and pest problems.

Demonstrated ability to successfully manage pastures under the pasture operational period and chemical restrictions listed above (e.g. non-GMO crops, non-neonicotinoid pesticides, restricted timing of harvest).

Ownership or access to the proper equipment, materials, labor, or other resources to participate in the Cooperative Agricultural Agreement (livestock, equipment, and personnel).

In-kind services to assist the Refuge in carrying out a successful Cooperative Agricultural program (e.g. assisting in readying the crop for feed by the wintering geese, maintaining roads and other infrastructure used by the Cooperator).

Other objective criteria including record keeping and reporting, effective communication, and response time to address issues (e.g. trespass cattle, beaver dams, fence repair) necessary to ensure the Cooperative Agricultural program meet the resource management objectives prescribed for Refuge lands.

To apply: complete FWS Form 3-1383-C and supplemental application questions. The proposals must be on a per acre basis for haying or for grazing. The FWS Form 3-1383-C, supplemental application questions and instructions, maps of the proposed Cooperative Agriculture area, and examples of a Cooperative Agricultural Agreement can be downloaded at www.fws.gov/refuge/nestucca_bay. Hard copies can be requested by calling Kelly Moroney, Project Leader at 541-867-4550 or email at Kelly_Moroney@fws.gov.

Applications are to be submitted to the Refuge Headquarters in a sealed envelope marked Cooperative Agricultural Agreement Application, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365. The sealed envelopes may be submitted either by mail or hand delivery to the refuge office and will only be accepted between September 15 and October 15, 2018. Sealed envelopes must be received in the refuge office by October 15, 2018 at 5:00 pm. All proposals will be opened on October 19th. The individual with the highest ranked proposal will be notified within 3 weeks of their selection.

Site Visits

A site visit to tour the refuge’s managed pastures (Figure 1) will be held on September 26, 2018. Meet in the parking lot of Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge (7000 Christensen Road) at 10:00 am. Call (541) 867-4550 for more information.

Figure 1. Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge with field numbers.