United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Litchfield Wetland Management District

22274 615th Avenue

Litchfield, Minnesota 55355-5818

Phone: (320) 693-2849

www.fws.gov/midwest/litchfieldwetland/

The Litchfield Wetland Management District is offering a cooperative agricultural opportunity to

bid for grazing on Sunburg Waterfowl Production Area, to all eligible applicants. Grazing will

be used to manage the grassland habitat and improve conditions for nesting waterfowl.

Information regarding the site specific treatment can be found on the Grazing Information Sheet.

In order to be considered, applicants must read and accept the Special Conditions, fill out the

attached selection criteria information and return the bid form.

If selected, the successful cooperator will be issued an annual Special Use Permit that may be

extended up to 3 years.

Instructions for applying:

Review the unit specific grazing information sheet.

Review the Special Conditions and sign at the bottom certifying you have read and accept

them.

Complete the Selection Criteria information.

Complete and sign the Bid Sheet.

Submit all information/documents by March 30, 2018 via email at Litchfieldwetland@fws.gov

or by mail to:

Litchfield Wetland Management District

Attn: Grazing Bid

22274 615th Ave

Litchfield, MN 55355

Selection Criteria:

Successful applicants will be selected using the following selection criteria.

Ability to respond within two hours to an issue/loose animals.

Ability to provide the number of animals requested (mature animals/kids).

Ability to move animals between 3 units at potential 3-4 different times.

Total Annual Grazing Bid.

Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be contacted by April 4, 2018.

For more information or questions please contact:

Beverly Meyer (320) 693-2849, ext. 106 or Trina Staloch (320) 693‐2849, ext. 103

Sunburg Waterfowl Production Area

Grazing Information Sheet

Bids will be accepted for grazing management on the Sunburg Waterfowl Production Area in

Kandiyohi County.

Legal Description: Sunburg Waterfowl Production Area, Norway Lake Township, Section 19

and 30, T122N, R36W, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.

Unit Size: 36 acres, 3 paddocks. The unit will be broken into 3 paddocks. The grazing regime

will be rotational. Rotational grazing of the 3 paddocks with animals moved a minimum of 3

times.

Grazing Period: May 15 – September 15, 2018

May 15 – September 15, 2019

May 15 – September 15, 2020

Grazing dates are approximate and will be based on weather and habitat conditions.

Stocking rate: 40 – 50 goats, nanny w/kid

Grazing rates are dependent on habitat conditions.

Requirements:

The cooperator is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and removal of temporary fence

(see map).

USFWS has available for use 2,600 feet of netted fence, solar panels, battery and fencer, if

requested. The producer is responsible for any additional fencing material that is needed.

The high bidder/cooperator will be required to provide all interior cross fencing materials.

This WPA has exterior fence. This fence may require maintenance and trimming of small trees

and bushes.

Permittee is responsible for keeping the livestock in and moving across paddocks in accordance

with FWS land manager direction as determined by site conditions.

Variance from the original rotation schedule will have to be justified and approved by USFWS

staff.

Waterfowl Production Area Grazing Bid Form and Selection Criteria

Grazing Unit (WPA): Sunburg Waterfowl Production Area____________________________

Grazing Selection Criteria: Please describe your ability to fulfill the criteria listed below.

Ability to respond within two hours to an issue/loose animal.

Ability to provide the number of animals requested (mature animals/kids)

Ability to move animals between 3 units at potential 3-4 different times.

Total Annual Grazing Bid

Annual Grazing Bid: $______________ per year X 3 years (2018, 2019, 2020) = $_________

I have read, understand and agree to the regulations, conditions and eligibility requirements for

grazing and submit this bid accordingly.

___________________________________ ________________________

Signature Date

Name: ___________________________________

Address: ___________________________________

___________________________________

Phone #: ____________________________________

Send sealed bids to:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Litchfield Wetland Management District

22274 615th Ave

Litchfield, MN 55355

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Litchfield WMD Grazing Special Conditions 2018

1. To be eligible to bid/graze you must be a current livestock operator.

2. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) reserves the right to modify the grazing

period, animal unit months or terminate the Special Use Permit (SUP) if habitat

conditions warrant.

3. Supplemental feeding will not be permitted. Use of minerals (salt or protein) will be

allowed. Permittee must provide product labeling to the Project Leader for approval.

Minerals must be in a container that minimizes spillage and is easily moved and placed

as required by the Refuge Manager. The permittee is required to move salt and mineral

every 5 to 7 days to reduce overuse of an area. They must be located away from

wetlands and fence corners (> 50’). A preferred location is in thick brush. All salt and

minerals must be removed at the end of each grazing period if multi-year permit.

4. All liability relating to livestock and livestock management to include all persons

working for the permittee, whether related, hired or as a partner is strictly that of the

permittee as listed on the SUP. The Permittee must acquire liability insurance that

indemnifies and holds the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service harmless from any liability

claims associated with the permittee’s livestock operation on Service Land.

5. The permittee must be in compliance with the respective State and local livestock health

regulations.

6. All equipment, including ATVs, UTVs and horses used to gather or inspect livestock

must be clean and free of invasive species plant material including seeds, before entering

on to Service lands. The Project Leader reserves the right to inspect and deny the use of

any equipment/vehicle/horses etc. that appears to contain invasive species plant material

or seeds.

7. Animals to be on weed free forage one week prior to release onto the WPA.

8. With the exception of ear tags, no insecticides may be used on livestock while they are

on the WPA. Any insecticide treatments must be applied before the livestock enter

refuge lands. The type of treatment must not transfer insecticide to feces.

9. Vaccinations or other treatments including deworming must be completed prior to

grazing on the Refuge. Treatments must be the type that do not transfer chemical to the

feces.

10. Any livestock management action including branding or dehorning on Service land must

be approved by the Project Leader.

11. Subletting is not permitted. As approved by the Project Leader, partnering with another

rancher will be permitted should the number of livestock needed to achieve the desired

outcome not be obtainable by a single rancher. If partnering is permitted the initial

permittee will be solely responsible for the total payment, management, liability and all

special conditions of the permit.

12. Fence maintenance is the responsibility of the permittee as identified on the grazing unit

map. Any permanent fence constructed on any unit of the National Wildlife Refuge

System will become property of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

13. Livestock watering will generally be provided via existing wetlands on Service lands.

However, the Service cannot guarantee the availability of an adequate water supply for

livestock use. If water becomes unavailable, the permittee may have to haul water to the

site. Supplemental watering must be approved by the Project Leader.

14. Deceased livestock must be removed from Service lands within 48 hours of discovery

unless other arrangements have been approved by the Project Leader.

15. The permittee shall not prohibit the general public from entering Service lands or

harass/interfere the general public in any way that would distract from their enjoyment

of the Service lands whether their livestock are currently grazing in the unit or not.

16. Noncompliance with any of the conditions in this Special Use Permit could result in an

immediate revocation of the permit by the Project Leader. Should this permit be

revoked there will be NO refunding of any unused portion of this permit. Revocation of

Permits will result in forfeiture of any future grazing opportunity.

17. Animal Unit (AU) conversions are as outlined below:

Class of animal Factor *

Mature cow 1.00

Cow-Calf pair 1.20

Yearling (9-18 months) 0.70

Weaner calf 0.50

Bull 1.50

Mature sheep or goat 0.20

Ewe w/lamb or nanny w/kid 0.30

Horse or mule 1.20

Bison 1.00

* Taken from Grazing Fee Rates for Cattle by Selected States and Regions, USDA

publication

________________________________ ________________________

Applicant Signature Date

11 acres

14 acres

11 acres

T122 R36W 140th

240th

19

30

20

29

KANDIYOHI

0 0.085 0.17 0.255 0.340.0425Miles

Sunburg WPA Unit Map US Fish and Wildlife Kandiyohi CountyT122N R36W Section 19

_̂

270th

170th

240th

125th

Kand

i Swif

t

60th

30th

140th

133rd

225th

255th 110th

Central

255th

110th

State Hwy 9

KANDIYOHISWIFT

Coun

ty Rd

95

Sunburg WPA

Brady WPA

Randall WPA

Sunburg WMA

Oleander WMA

4 Strand BW FencePrimary GrazingSecondary GrazingTertiary Grazing Property Boundary