MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Illinois Federal Aid Project W-66-R 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
Glen C. Sanderson and Helen C. Schultz, Editors 
Urbana, Illinois 
April, 1SJ76 
Vol. 19, No. 4 
Manipulation of Pheasant Hab i ta t r. E, V/arne 
Last month's research letter (MWRL 19(3):1) reported that a survey of 
farmer attitudes concerning the seeded roadside program was conducted for 
farmers in the Ford County Management Unit (FCMU) during January 1 976 . The 
following facts were elicited from the survey: 
1. Forty-seven of the 6 l cooperators in the FCMU in 1968 were still 
farming as of January 1976, and 46 were interviewed. Of these 46, 40 (87 
percent) recalled being contacted by a representative from the Illinois 
Department of Conservation (I DC) prior to roadside seeding in 1968 . 
2. Of the 46, 38 (83 percent) remembered entering into a delayed mowing 
agreement. Twenty-seven of the 38 (59 percent) recalled a date of 1 Auqust 
or later. 
3. Fifty-three cooperators were farming the FCMU as of January I 976 , 
52 of whom were interviewed. The following question was asked: "As a direct 
result of seeding roadsides to brome and vernal alfalfa in l963, have the 
following items been of concern to you?" Farmers responded in the followinq 
manner: * 1 2 3 
increased 
Conce rn 
No. (percent) 
Dec reased 
Concern 
No. (percent) 
Little or 
No Concern 
No. (percent) 
a. 
V/eeds 
20 (38,5) 
6 
o'. 5 ) 
b. 
Drainage 
10 ( 19 - 2 ) 
0 
c. 
Traffic visibility 
10 ( 19 . 2 ) 
0 
d. 
Wi1dlife roadki11s 
5 ( 9 - 6 ) 
8 
(15-4) 
e. 
Appearance 
17 (32.7) 
8 
(15.4) 
Total = 52 farmers 
26 (50.0) 
42 (80.8) 
42 ( 80 . 8 ) 
39 (75.0) 
27 (51-9) 
ka.' Of the 52 farmers, 50 (96 percent) were aware that signs were posted 
to explain the seeded roadside program. 
48. Thirty-five (70 percent) knew that signs were posted only around 
the perimeter of the FCMU. 
4c^. Twenty-eight (56 percent) felt that the signs were necessary. 
iihi UKfc 
