Faced with plummeting populations of grassland-dwelling birds, delaying the harvesting of hay is regarded as a measure to sustain populations.  A recent survey conducted in Holt and Cherry counties in the Nebraska Sandhills determined that sixty percent of the respondents indicated that they would be willing to commence harvesting only after July 15th.  This would allow nesting pairs to complete incubation and raise their chicks to maturity. The survey also demonstrated that most of the 300 respondents were knowledgeable about local bird species including meadowlarks, prairie chickens and bobolinks and the majority were willing to follow bird-friendly harvesting practices.

It was suggested that conservation-based financial incentives through federal programs may compensate farmers for the loss in nutritional value of hay as a result of delayed harvesting.