John's Field Restoration

Since the establishment of the refuge, farming has been implemented as feed for wildlife. Since 1997 phasing out of domestic crop fields has been a large focus of the refuge. Croplands are generally being phased-out at most Refuges in accordance with the Service's Ecological Integrity Policy, which emphasizes native vegetation and natural processes. Of the original thousands of acres of farmland, 110 acres remain. With the establishment of Prairie on these remaining acres, continued cropping on the refuge will be phased out in favor of a more natural system. In the future farming may be utilized for restoration of certain wetland or upland sites.