Wild Rice Seeding in Central MN

In an attempt to improve waterfowl habitat conditions in the state of Minnesota, as well as in response to the increased demand by hunters for better waterfowl hunting, we plan on enhancing approximately 500 acres of existing shallow lake habitat with wild rice in Wright and Sherburne Counties over the next three years (2011-2013). Wild rice (Zizania aquatic) is an annual aquatic plant of Minnesota, which is an essential food for ducks and other water birds, having twice the protein of cereal grains. Wild rice beds also provide shelter and suitable resting areas for both breeding and migrating waterfowl. When thick with wild rice, Minnesota's lakes can support hundreds of thousands of ducks during fall migration. Wild rice beds also provide ideal living conditions for aquatic invertebrates, which not only are the foundation of most aquatic food webs, but are also high energy food for migrating waterfowl.