Creating Biodiversity on your Farm

Transcription

1 Creating Biodiversity on your Farm Sam Earnshaw Hedgerows Unlimited California Small Farm Conference (831) October

2 Conservation Practices: Ways Farmers are Using Vegetation Hedgerows Grassed Waterways Filter Strips Riparian Plantings Windbreaks

3 Native Plant Hedgerow

4 Perennial Grasses In Ditch for Erosion and Weed Control

5 Grass Filter Strip between Field and Hedge

6 Riparian Planting

7 Windbreak

8 Hedgerows, Grassed Waterways, Filter Strips, Riparian Plantings, Windbreaks Beneficial insect and pollinator habitat Wildlife habitat Soil erosion control Weed control Non-point source water pollution reduction Air quality and dust control Barriers Riparian stabilization Windbreak and climate modification Aesthetic value Economic returns Increase in local and regional biodiversity

9 Buffering Climatic Extremes Making Farms More Resilient POSSIBLE CONDITIONS: Hotter, drier or wetter, erratic weather: floods and drought; earlier spring; winds, dust Increased pest pressure Changing habitat for wildlife

10 Bees Increase Yields

11 Birds eat bugs

12 Birds Love Rodents

13 Snakes Eat Rodents

14 Planning a Hedgerow Identify non-cropped areas of the farm suitable for vegetation planting

15 Planning a Hedgerow Utilize Resources Manuals, Websites

16 Planning a Hedgerow Utilize Resources Manuals, Websites

17 Identify Suitable Area of the Farm Exclude from consideration areas that regularly flood, lack access to water or equipment, or may conflict with crop

18 Berm: Ideal Place for a Hedgerow Replace Annual Weeds, Filter dust from Road

19 Providing Barrier, Dust Protection

20 Site Analysis What is the ecosystem your farm is in? Determine complex of native plants and animals that were historically present

21 Three-Year Old Hedgerow

22 Site Analysis Plant requirements: tall, medium, short; trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses

23 Perennial vs. Annual Roots

24 From Eroding Ditch to Grassed Waterway

25 Irrigation system Animal pressure Site Analysis

26 Site Analysis Other considerations: Overhead powerlines Access for equipment Existing trees Off-site factors

27 Planning and Design Design and layout: Sites for Planned Habitat Plantings on Farm

28 Planning and Design Develop plant lists by matching plants to location NRCS evegguide

29 Planning and Design Choose plants to have full-season flowering

30 Abundance of a Predator Green Lacewings Yarrow Coyote bush Ceanothus Ceanothus 'RH' Buckwheat Toyon Coffee berry 0 3-May 3-Jun 3-Jul 3-Aug 3-Sep 3-Oct San Juan Bautista site, 2006

31 Planning and Design Develop budget for project COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING CONSERVATION PLANTINGS Activity Farmer meetings and planning Planning with foreman Tractor work labor Other site preparation labor Picking up materials Irrigation system installation labor Pre-irrigation labor Planting labor Spreading mulch, compost Post-planting monitoring and maintenance Irrigation-labor Materials Tractor work fuel Irrigation system parts Plant materials Other site preparation materials (compost, etc.) Pre-irrigation water Irrigation-water cost, PGE, fuel Mulch, cardboard, weedcloth Other (fencing, gopher cages, vehicle use, etc.) Other Mileage to pick up compost, irrigation supplies, mulch Annual Costs Estimated yearly water cost Estimated yearly maintenance* Land Rent *Monitoring, weeding/mowing, fixing irrigation system leaks, replanting

32 Planning and Design Investigate and initiate Cost-Share possibilities

33 Planning and Design Contact nurseries and order plants in advance, from local ecosystem if possible

34 Site Preparation & Planting Soil preparation: clear weeds, chisel, build bed Installation of irrigation system for 2-3 years of operation, if necessary Acquire compost, bone meal or rock phosphate Pre-irrigate

35 Site Preparation & Planting Lay out and plant plants

36 Bare Soil, no Habitat in Central Valley

37 Plant and Irrigate

38 Beekeeper Reduced Farmer Fees

39 Site Preparation & Planting Mulch Cardboard and Mulch

40 Mulched Hedgerow

41 Site Preparation & Planting Install signs in English and Spanish to prevent accidental damage to hedgerow

42 Issues, Problems with Native Plantings Too little water, too much water Tractor Blight Pests (insects, rodents, birds) attracted to plantings - Food Safety concerns Movement of insects into fields Genetic Pollution-not using plants from specific area Hosting Diseases: Pierce s Disease, Sudden Oak Death (SOD), Eutypa, Phytophthera High costs of maintenance

43 Food Safety Monitor the crop, not the habitat planting. Take action if crop damage or animal feces are observed. Factors to be considered before deciding on whether animals are a food safety concern: Number of animals Type of animals Type of crop Harvest procedure Neighboring influences Pathogen of concern Additional processing Source: Wild Farm Alliance- CAFF caff.org

44 Maintenance & Follow-up Maintain irrigation system Remove weeds while they are small Control rodents where necessary Replant where necessary Track performance of plants

45 Questions? Sam Earnshaw (831)