| On Topic
On Farm Practices to
increase pollinator populations
produced by different types of plant species on
a month by month basis.
Mike Hutchinson, director of Hutchinsons
crop production specialists, who conducted
and analysed the initial survey, and will
continue to advise growers for the duration of
the project said: “By mapping the availability of
pollen and nectar on individual farms on a
monthly basis, each farmer can identify where
the availability gaps are - usually during early
spring and late autumn - and can take
measures to enhance supply during these
times. Solutions can include changing cutt ing
regimes on grass and flower margins or
building diversity into crop production. The
aspect which makes this project effective and
unique is its scale and ability to monitor nectar
and pollen supplies on a month-by-month
basis.”
The collaborative project is an example of
how agricultural suppliers, expert advisors and
farmers can work together to benefit
biodiversity and secure the continuous supply
of vital crops.
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Many pollinating insects have become reliant on a narrow
range of arable crops, notably oilseed rape and beans, for their
nectar supply and it is crucial to build more diversity into this supply
throughout the year, not just the main summer months through
stewardship schemes and other measures – and this project is all about
fine tuning and improving some of the things that are already in place.
Mr Hutchinson acknowledges that it may be difficult and potentially quite costly
to establish purpose-bought herbaceous seed early in the season, so instead
suggests trying to identify and encourage naturally-occurring beneficial plants on certain
uncropped areas, field margins or awkward field corners.
“For example, ground ivy, white/ red deadnettle and dandelion are all useful species for
extending insect food availability, while planting early flowering shrubby species such as goat
willow and blackthorn can give longer-term benefits.”
“Changing cutting regimes on grass and flower margins to delay flowering is
another relatively easy way to extend food supply for insects, while including lateflowering species like knapweed in any mix is a useful addition for boosting end
of season food” he says. “There are also a number of other wild species that
flower later in the year, such as field scabious and wild carrot.”
He adds that all of these measures are designed to be practical,
achievable and fit in with the specific landscape of the farm. “We
sometimes see land being taken out of food production with the
noble intention of providing habitat for pollinators. However,
it isn’t until one analyses the entire landscape that it
becomes evident that the changes being made are
not necessarily having the desired effects.”
November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 13