Extending Pollinator Habitat Options to Producers . . . . . . . . . - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extending Pollinator Habitat Options to Producers

Kim Wolfe

Research & Development Specialist – Ag Resources, Manitoba Agriculture

March 20, 2018

Pollinators are Important to Ag

• When looking at crops alone, about 35% of global crop

production require pollination by native insects, mainly bees and flies

• There have been several studies showing that bees

increase seed set/yield if there is appropriate habitat nearby a field (Canola – 20% more yield; 1% more oil content (Bartomeus et al., 2014)).

• Bee abundance was greatest in canola fields that had

more uncultivated land within 750m of field edges; seed set was higher in fields with higher bee abundance (Morandin & Winston, 2006)

Pollinators on the decline

• Researchers have found that pollinator numbers are

declining

• Due to pesticide use, habitat loss, spread of pests and

disease

• One solution to the decline is to create more habitat
• Developing seed mixes for pollinator habitat is difficult
• Need to provide food and shelter (variety of species) to

support a variety of pollinators

• Need plants to establish (soil conditions, moisture),

time/labour, costs involved…

Extension at MBFI

• Opportunity for extension and demonstrate

current pollinator habitat mixes to producers at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI)

• Two programs being promoted in MB

– Syngenta Canada – General Mills/Cheerios

• Also planted a pollinator blend composed of

native species

Operation Pollinator

• International biodiversity program focussed on

increasing the number of pollinating insects on commercial farms, and golf courses

• Been heavily adopted in Europe (Belgium, France,

Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and US)

• They have partnered with Soil Conservation

Council of Canada to bring the program to western Canada.

• In MB, the SCCC has partnered MB Conservation

Districts to administer the program.

Operation Pollinator

• Targeting 100

producers across 3 prairie provinces (33/province)

• Each producer get 1 to

2, 20kg bags of free seed and maintain for 3-5 years

• Seed blend composed
• f non-native species,

not very diverse

Operation Pollinator

• Planted in two locations at

MBFI – Brookdale Farm on June 9, 2017

• Around riparian area that

was considered unhealthy due to high amount of invasive species (foxtail barley and Canada thistle)

• Site off Hwy 10, previously

used to store gravel

Operation Pollinator

• Sites sprayed, tilled, seed

broadcast with quad seeder (increased recommended rate), harrowed, no maintenance…so far

Operation Pollinator

• Clovers and phacelia

established well

• Although non-native

species & not that diverse, it was easy to establish, little labour, low cost, low maintenance, is attracting pollinators

• Could improve blend by

adding species to increase diversity?

Prairie Originals Seed Mix

• Planted a native seed mix from Prairie

Originals in early June

• Diverse - 3 grass species; 14 forb species
• Small area in front of the new shop (500m2)
• Tilled, sprayed twice, harrowed, rolled/packed,

seed mixed with wet peat moss, hand seeded, rolled again.

Prairie Originals Seed Mix

Grasses: Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii Switchgrass Panicum virgatum Slough Grass Beckmannia syzigachne Forbs: Wild Iris Iris versicolor Swamp Milkweed Asclepias Incarnata Wild Mint Mentha canadensis Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Stiff Goldenrod Solidaga rigida Helenium Helenium autumnale Blue Vervain Verbena hastata Culver’s Root Veronicastrum virginicum Turtlehead Chelone glabra Joe Pye Eupatorium sp. Narrowleaf Sunflower Helianthus angustifolius Flat Top White Aster Doellingeria umbellata New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae- angliae Tall Meadow Rue Thalictrum dasycarpum

Prairie Originals Seed Mix

• More work, more

expensive, dealing with weed issues,

• ngoing maintenance
• Take years to see

results, high quality habitat

General Mills / Cheerios

• General Mills Cheerios / Xerces Society (invertebrate

conservation)

• Donated 4 million to protect and restore pollinator

habitat on farmland.

• Offering free seed for producers, provide a custom mix

tailored to producers’ needs

• Targeting oat growers who could get up to 160 acres of

seed or more

• Non-oat growers are also eligible at smaller amount

(10-20 acres)

General Mills / Cheerios

• Project planned for 2018-21
• MBFI – Johnson Farm (10 acre paddock), meadow/smooth brome
• Rejuvenate tame pastures and create pollinator habitat with novel

seed mix

• What is the best way to establish native seed in pasture?

General Mills / Cheerios

• Collect data off site

(establishment, photo- monitoring, forage quality/quantity)

• Expecting to provide

better pollinator foraging habitat that is also valuable for grazing and haying

Potential Species Maximilian Sunflower Wild Bergamot Slender beardtongue Lewis Flax Stiff Goldenrod Blackeyed Susan Long-headed Coneflower Culvers root Evening primrose Heliopsis helianthoides Zizia aurea Aster novae angliae

Extension Efforts

• Summer field tour, 80 producers
• ACC Soil & Water Program, 20 students
• MBFI website www.mbfi.ca
• Social Media (twitter, facebook)
• News media (Manitoba Co-operator)

Public Trust Survey

AAFC survey on public trust (2017) with 2000 producers

• Over two-thirds of producers (67%) believe that public

perceptions about agriculture have at least a moderate impact on their operations and decision-making

• Producers implemented a variety of practices in response to

external public pressures – reduced their pesticide use (67%), implemented environmental stewardship programs (62%), nutrient management plans (60%)

• Cost is main barrier to adoption (73%), level of risk for ROI

(63%)

www.agr.gc.ca/eng/about-us/publications/agri-info-newsletter/agri-info-newsletter-march-2018

QUESTIONS?

Kim Wolfe Manitoba Agriculture 204-871-4373 kim.wolfe@gov.mb.ca