Written by: Pierce Young

Old fields are one of the most valuable—and most overlooked—habitats on the landscape. In the MDWFP Private Lands Program video, biologists emphasize that these areas, when actively managed, provide critical early successional habitat for species like northern bobwhite quail, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and many songbirds.

The key is simple: disturbance and plant diversity drive wildlife use.

 

What is Old Field Habitat?

Old fields are former agricultural, pasture lands, or large food plots that have been taken out of production. Left alone, they follow natural succession—eventually becoming dense brush and then forest.

The most productive stage for wildlife is early succession, characterized by:

  • Native grasses
  • Broadleaf forbs
  • Scattered shrubs and young woody growth
  • Open ground

This structure provides food, cover, and mobility—everything wildlife needs.

 

The Problem: Non-Native Grass Dominance

Many old fields in Mississippi are not true early successional habitat—they’re dominated by non-native pasture grasses, including:

  • Bermudagrass
  • Bahiagrass
  • Johnsongrass
  • Tall fescue

These grasses form dense mats that:

  • Limit plant diversity
  • Reduce insect production
  • Restrict movement for quail and turkey poults

If these grasses dominate, disturbance alone (disking or burning) will not fix the problem. Herbicide is often necessary.

 

Converting Fields: Herbicide Strategies

Preparation

Before spraying:

  • Burn or mow several weeks in advance
  • This removes excess biomass (thatch) and improves herbicide coverage and effectiveness

Mixed Grass Pastures (Most Common Scenario)

For fields with multiple non-native grasses:

  • Spray May–June: Glyphosate at 2–3 qt/ac
  • Spray again July–August: Glyphosate at 3–4 qt/ac

This two-step approach removes the thick grass layer and allows native seedbank response—often eliminating the need for planting.

Species-Specific Control

Tall Fescue 

  • Timing: April–May or Sept–Nov
  • Imazapic (Plateau): 12 oz/ac
  • Glyphosate (Roundup): 1.5–2 qt/ac
  • Imazapic = selective, some residual
  • Glyphosate = non-selective, no residual

Bermudagrass

  • Timing: June–September
  • Imazapyr (Arsenal): 22 oz/ac
  • Glyphosate: 5 qt/ac
  • Imazapyr has ~6-month soil activity and can impact trees

Bahiagrass

  • June–Sept: Imazapyr (16 oz/ac) or Glyphosate (3–4 qt/ac)
  • April–May: Metsulfuron (Escort) 0.5 oz/ac or Oust 3–5 oz/ac

Johnsongrass

  • Timing: May–June
  • Sulfosulfuron (Outrider): 2 oz/ac
  • Selective, minimal residual

 

Promoting Native Vegetation

Once competition is removed, desirable plants often emerge naturally from the soil seedbank.

Native Forbs (High Wildlife Value)

  • Ragweed
  • Partridge pea
  • Beggar’s lice
  • Prairie clover
  • Ticktrefoil
  • Slender lespedeza
  • Bundleflower
  • Narrow-leaved sunflower
  • Black-eyed Susan

These plants are critical for seed production and insect abundance.

Often emerge within 1-2 years after herbicide treatment.

Native Grasses

  • Big bluestem
  • Little bluestem
  • Indiangrass
  • Broomsedge bluestem
  • Sideoats grama
  • Sand lovegrass
  • Purpletop
  • Eastern gamagrass

Native grasses should be present—but not dominant to the point of suppressing forbs.

Often emerge 2-3 years after herbicide treatment.

Native Browse (Protect or Encourage)

  • American beautyberry
  • Winged sumac
  • Wild plum
  • Blackberry / dewberry
  • Blueberry, huckleberry, sparkleberry
  • Greenbrier

These provide food and structure.
(Note: Japanese honeysuckle is non-native but does provide wildlife value.)

Oftern emerge 3-5 years after herbicide treatment.

 

Maintaining Old Fields: Disturbance is Required

Without management, fields quickly become too old and less productive. MDWFP recommends:

Burning and/or Disking

  • Conduct every 2–5 years
  • Ideal timing: October–November
  • Purpose: reset succession and stimulate plant diversity

Rotational Management (Key Concept)

Do not treat the entire field at once.

Instead:

  • Divide fields into sections
  • Example:
    • Year 1: disturb 50%
    • Year 3: disturb the other 50%
    • Year 5: return to first section

This creates a mosaic of habitat ages, which:

  • Increases plant diversity
  • Provides year-round wildlife benefits

 

Management Goals

The objective is not a “clean” field—it’s a messy, diverse system.

You want:

  • Bare ground for movement
  • Broadleaf plants for insects and seed
  • Shrubs for cover
  • A mix of ages (1–5 years old)

 

Common Mistakes

  • Relying only on burning or disking in non-native grass fields
  • Allowing fields to become too old and woody (productive soils may need to be managed more often)
  • Managing for uniform structure instead of diversity
  • Prioritizing food plots over native habitat

 

Final Takeaway

Old field management is one of the most effective and affordable ways to improve wildlife habitat.

The formula emphasized by MDWFP is straightforward:

  • Control non-native grasses (when necessary)
  • Promote native plants
  • Apply disturbance regularly
  • Manage fields in sections over time

Do that, and your property will produce the structure, food, and diversity that wildlife depend on.

 

For more wildlife management information visit:

www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-management-info