Final report for FNC21-1314
Project Information
As it relates to this grant, between the three farms we have 4.5 acres of vineyards and 1.5 acres of sunflower. Before the grant, two to the three are new to cropping and to sustainable practices.
An expensive and labor-intensive practice of vineyards is to net the vines close to harvest to deter birds. That said, birds still make their way under the nets and peck through the nets at the grapes that are close to the surface. Damage from the birds allows secondary infections to establish in the clusters rendering them unusable for making wine. The nets also compromise quality of the grapes by causing physical damage themselves allowing secondary pathogens to establish. Nets make it difficult for spraying and mowing. Last season, the Walker Homestead failed to net the vines, but with a sunflower backdrop to the vineyard, discovered that the birds preferred the sunflowers to grapes and ignored the grapes. We propose a study across three distinct farms to determine if companion planting of sunflowers next to vineyards along with one application of avian spray is a more effective method to managing avian defense. Our proposal supports sustainable agriculture, as we believe our bird management approach to be ecologically sound, more profitable, less labor, and socially responsible for Integrated Pest Management (IPM), wildlife preservation, and is a holistic/systems approach to farming.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of companion planting sunflowers for bird control in vineyards.
- Compare overall labor and profitability between netting and companion planting of sunflower for bird control in vineyards.
- Abstract farmers’ perceptions of pros/cons of the two options
- Share findings through podcast, videos, and presentations at annual farmer conferences.
- Measure adoption rate of sunflower companion planting for bird control in vineyards.
Cooperators
- - Producer
- - Producer
- - Producer
Research
Selection of sunflower type agreed to by the farmers, considered options such as seed size number 3-4, and height tall enough to monitor bird penetration next to vineyard. Project also provides for the sunflower seed, fertilizer, and one application of avian spray, on the theory that one initial spray deters the birds from learning of the taste of the grapes and keeps attention directed to the preferred sunflower food source. We planted three pounds of sunflower seeds per acre. This project supports each farmer to purchase a used 2-row sunflower planter on 30 inch spacing so to support seed planting 1/4 of field patch every 2 weeks from May through June for two growing season. The reason for multiple sunflower plantings is to ensure flowers are in bloom prior to grapes ripening and during their peak.
Our study will compare cost/time of netting vs. sunflower plantings and farmers’ perception as to the advantages and disadvantages of sunflower plantings adjacent to a vineyard as a method to control birds. Additionally, the study will measure overall profitability of these two options, taking into consideration any additional earnings from the sunflowers (i.e., u-pick, agritourist event).
Data collected once each growing season:
- Plot size of sunflower field
- Position to vineyard
- Number/cultivar of vines
- Type/Cost fertilizer
- Cultivar/Cost of sunflower seeds
- Earnings from sunflower
- Sunflower planting dates
- First bloom date of each planting
- Number of vines in nets and un-netted
- Hours spent netting/un-netting
- Harvest weight of netted and un-netted vines
- Weather observation by week
Data collected most days at the point of approach of harvest:
- Measured Average Brix /Date of grapes in vineyard
- Bird penetration estimate per netted / un-netted vine (daily) during peak of harvest
- Type of birds
- Birds present in sunflowers
- Hawks present in vineyard
Maps of planting plans in submission's media folder.
Participation in this study were three vineyards of varying age, product and size in three locations across Iowa. A dollar-to-dollar comparison is difficult with such a small sample of three vineyards with the age of the type of grape in each vineyard differing but all three farmers could speak to overall experience and perceptions.
Profitability Comparison (not including one-time cost of planting equipment)
Added Costs of Companion Planting the Sunflowers
- Sunflower Seed: $180/acre
- Weed Control pre-emergent grass and broadleaf weed control (2 week prior to planting)
- Postemergence grass control, once grass is 2-4 inches tall: $300/growing season
- Planting Labor (this varied depending on if planting all at one time or breaking up into multiple planting times. It also varied on comfort level with equipment. (In the end, all three decided, you only need to plant once (early) so seed present to attract birds prior to grapes becoming ripe and attractive to birds.
Revenue/Benefits
- Saving on labor of nets on/off
- Savings on the cost of nets
- Gain of protein (sunflower seeds) for animal feed
- Used seeds for growing microgreens (which used in restaurants, sold to local restaurants)
- Agritourism draw
- U-Pick flowers
- Soil health
- Supports regenerative agriculture
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Vineyard 1 (year 1 vs year 2) |
Vineyard 2 (year 2) |
Vineyard 3 year 1 |
Vineyard 3 year 2 |
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Sunflower Seeded (and Nets) |
16.23 lbs./vine |
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6.2 lbs./vine |
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Sunflower Seeded (and No Nets) |
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6 lbs./vine |
6.62 lbs./vine overall average |
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No Sunflowers (and Nets) |
10.38 lbs./vine |
10.58 lbs./vine |
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No Sunflowers (and No Nets) |
|
1.75 lbs./vine |
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5.85 lbs./vine advantage of Sunflowers present with Nets |
N/A since seeding of sunflowers had not taken place prior to grapes ripening. It does show that it is important to either net or companion plant or else it is possible you will have not have any product due to bird pressure |
0.2 lbs. / vine advantage of nets with Sunflowers vs no nets |
Given the labor of netting and little advantage seen in year 1 AND witnessing no bird pressure in the vineyard, did not get nets on in year 2 |
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Notes |
*year 2 - failed to get a sunflower crop |
*year 1 a bust as lost all sunflowers to deer pressure |
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For the times when the vineyards were successful to have sunflowers seeding prior to the grapes ready for harvest, there was a varying of 0.2 lbs./vine to 5.85 lbs./vine improvement of harvest weight. Best option may be to both net and companion plant as birds seem to be less likely to pick at grapes through and underneath nets if they have the easy sunflower seed options available.
Overall, Lessons Learned
- If issues with deer in vineyard, must proactively protect sunflower crop as well
- Need the right tools to manage multiple plantings
- Must maintain weed control for a productive crop
- For weed control, it is important to start with a clean field
- Grape farming and row-crop farming are completely different
- There is a learning curve to row cropping and it may take one-to-two seasons to get comfortable with the needs and equipment.
- Timing is key. You can wait in a vineyard but NOT w/row crops. You must do the work when the work is required, the window is smaller
- As an agritourism business, this is an attraction regardless of effectiveness. Photo opportunity, selling flowers etc. worth the effort
- All three farmers plan to continue to companion plant sunflowers with their vineyards. Two of the three plan to do both netting and companion planting as that appears to have the most benefits.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Companion Planting of Sunflowers in Vineyards for Pest Bird Management (5)Companion Planting of Sunflowers in Vineyards for Pest Bird Management 2021Companion Planting of Sunflowers in Vineyards for Pest Bird ManagementMay 7, 2021 – Interviewed in a smallfarmsustainability's podcast, episode titled ‘Sunflowers in the Vineyard’. We had 638 listeners to this podcast episode. In this episode Joe Hannan, Iowa State, University Extension and Outreach Commercial Horticulture Specialist, interviewed Kristy Walker, with Walker Homestead, and discusses sunflowers used as a way to detract birds from the grapes in the vineyard.
( https://smallfarmsustainability.libsyn.com/sunflowers-in-the-vineyard ) (683 listeners)
August 2, 2021 - ‘Virtual Nights of the Wine Table’ is a monthly virtual chat with members of the Iowa Wine Growers Association, where Kristy Walker talked about the study, shared were we are in year one, and adjustments we are planning for year two.
February 23, 2023 - at the Iowa Speciality Producers 2023 Conference in Ankeny Iowa, Companion Planting of Sunflowers in Vineyards for Pest Bird Management' Presented by all three farmers
Presentation Description in the Conference Schedule: Across two growing seasons, Kristy Walker (Walker Homestead Farm and Winery), Chris Larsen (Compass Hill Vineyard) and John Barber (Ottawa Vineyards) experimented with companion planting of sunflowers in vineyards to (1) evaluate effectiveness in minimizing damage from pest birds and (2) compare overall labor and profitability between netting and companion planting of sunflower as methods for bird control in vineyards. This presentation will share findings, the pros and cons, lessons learned as well as their plans moving forward.
Project Description: An expensive and labor-intensive practice of vineyards is to net the vines close to harvest to deter birds. That said, birds still make their way under the nets and peck through the nets at the grapes that are close to the surface. Damage from the birds allows secondary infections to establish in the clusters rendering them unusable for making wine. The nets also compromise quality of the grapes by causing physical damage themselves allowing secondary pathogens to establish. Nets make it difficult for spraying and mowing. Three years ago, the Walker Homestead failed to net the vines, but with a sunflower backdrop to the vineyard, discovered that the birds preferred the sunflowers to grapes and ignored the grapes. We took on a study across three distinct farms to determine if companion planting of sunflowers next to vineyards is a more effective method to managing avian defense. If proven to be effective, companion planting better supports sustainable agriculture, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), wildlife preservation, and is a holistic/systems approach to farming.
Learning Outcomes
- New to sunflower/row crop, one farmer did not realize the need to borrow equipment through multiple plantings/week control that needed to be mapped with other persons schedules, weather as well as the cadence of the vineyard. Investment in tillage equipment is underway.
- Critical to have the right tools to manage multiple plantings and weed control
- Attempt to drill seed into a no-till field fail to germinate sunflowers. Best to till/plant seeds.
- Important to start with a clean field and maintain a weed control protocol if to have a productive sunflower crop
- Other farmer had severe deer pressure and will be putting in electric fencing to protect the sunflowers in year two.
- If issues with deers in vineyard, must proactively protect sunflower crop as well
- Grape Farming and Row-Crop Farming are Completely Different. Timing is key. You can wait in a vineyard but NOT w/ row crops You must do the work when the work is required, the window is smaller
- Sunflowers must be seeding before they can attract birds, important that they have reached this stage prior to the grapes ripening.
- Early results are promising but we need more data (bigger sample size) to confirm. All three farmers plan to continue with companion planting of sunflowers as one mechanism for bird pest management.
- Other benefits of sunflower companion planting include:
- Gain of Protein for Animal Feed
- Microgreens
- Agritourism Draw
- U-Pick Flowers
- Soil Health
- Supports Regenerative Ag
Project Outcomes
Information Products
- COMPANION PLANTING OF SUNFLOWERS IN VINEYARDS FOR PEST BIRD MANAGEMENT (Conference/Presentation Material)
- Video: Companion Planting of Sunflowers in Vineyards for Pest Bird Management (Multimedia)