Progress report for OS24-171
Project Information
We propose developing a program to help growers better implement habitat involving three objectives: Objective 1. Create and install a habitat design for southeastern agroecosystems. Objective 2: Document the benefits of habitat installation. Objective 3: Hold a workshop for southeastern growers detailing the habitat design, where to find resources (seeds and plugs), installation process, and benefits so as to empower growers to install habitat on their own farms.
This proposal addresses the Beneficial Insect Habitat and Increasing Sustainability of Existing Farming Practices focal areas by developing a plant mix that will provide habitat for native beneficial insects on farms and encouraging a practice that will increase the sustainability of farms. Our project team includes local experts on sustainable agriculture (CEFS [Center for Environmental Farming Systems], NC [North Carolina] State Cooperative Extension), farming experience in the southeastern US (farmer cooperator), local, native plants (NC State Cooperative Extension, NC Botanical Garden), and beneficial insects in agricultural areas (NC State University). We will use our collective knowledge, as well as established literature, to successfully conduct the proposed project.
Objective 1. Create and install a habitat design for southeastern agroecosystems
To create a regionally relevant habitat design that supports wildlife and meets grower needs, we will use our team’s expertise. Our team has firsthand experience with habitat design, installation, and management in North Carolina. We will also consult with relevant literature in plant selection (e.g. Mallinger et al., 2019; Roos, 2023) and design elements (e.g. Seth Carley & Spafford, 2021; NCBG, 2019). As mentioned above, we will use the survey results to guide our habitat design.
Once a design is finalized, we will install the habitat on 3 North Carolina farms. We will use funds from this project to provide participating farms with the necessary plants, plugs, and seeds. We will detail site preparation, plant placement, plant density and spacing, and maintenance protocols. We will assist growers on the initial installation and provide further guidance on management as needed.
By creating a habitat design we address the 34.3% of survey respondents that reported needing more help or information before they could install habitat on their farm. By providing the plants, plugs, and seeds to participating farms we help alleviate the 57.3% of respondents that report access to resources as a major barrier to installing habitat, and directly address the 5.6% of respondents that reported limited access to seeds and plants.
Objective 2: Document the benefits of habitat installation
We will conduct pre- and post-habitat installation insect surveys to document that our habitat design is providing ecosystem services to farms. The pre-installation survey will be done in Year 1, and the post-installation survey will be done in Year 2.
For both surveys, we will follow similar sampling methods to those outlined in Levenson & Tarpy, 2023, which includes two sampling methods: active hand netting and passive pan trapping. Active hand netting involves using an insect net to collect insects and transferring collected samples into storage containers. Pan trapping involves using small plastic cups painted yellow, blue, and white. The paint used on the cups reflects specific UV wavelengths that attract insects. The cups are filled with soapy water, which breaks the water’s surface tension, and acts as a passive collection tool for insects. By using both methods together, we will collect a more thorough sample of the insect community as netting collects larger bodied insects and pan traps collect smaller, harder to detect insects. Both sampling methods will be used once a month for 4 months during peak season of the habitat (expected May - September, depending on geographic location).
Pan traps will be placed around the edge of the habitat installation area. Traps will be placed out in the field at 9 AM each day and left out for 6 hours (collected at 3 PM). The contents of the traps will be stored at -20 C until further processing. Hand netting will be conducted for a total of 1 hour each month, along a haphazard transect within the habitat installation area. Each netting survey will consist of two 30-minute surveys - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This will enable us to account for temporal differences in insect abundance and diversity across time of day. While netting is most commonly used to document bee pollinators, in this context we will collect any flying insect in order to evaluate all ecosystem services provided by this habitat. Each collected specimen will be placed in individual tubes and stored at -20 C until further processing. All collected specimens will be identified down to the lowest taxonomic level possible at the Specialty Crops Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management Laboratory at NC State University.
Objective 3: Hold a workshop for southeastern growers
At the end of Year 2, we will hold a workshop for southeastern growers to outline our findings. We will share the details of our habitat design, including what plants were selected and why, installation protocols, and if there’s any changes to our recommendations after the installation experience. We will also provide information on local sources of seeds, plants, and plugs, as well as general guidelines for how our habitat design can be adapted for specific needs. At the workshop, our grower cooperator and participating farms where habitat was installed will share their experience with installing the habitat. They will share any lessons learned and any updated recommendations. We will also share our findings from the pre- and post-installation insect surveys. While these results will be preliminary, as the habitat will be at most one year old at the time of the post-survey, we will discuss the benefits growers can expect from the habitat in the long-term. The workshop will close with an open discussion portion where attendees will have the opportunity to ask any questions they have as well as address any reservations or barriers to installing habitat they may be experiencing. The information in this workshop will help address concerns that growers reported in our southeastern US grower survey such as limited information (34.3%) and understanding of habitat benefits (19.5%), as well as needing help understanding how to install habitat and where to find resources (14.8%).
Cooperators
- - Producer
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- (Researcher)
Research
From April 2024 to September 2024, our team developed a modular habitat design - which includes 15 different plant species - and outlined site preparation guidelines. The modular nature of the design brings flexibility to the habitat so that farmers can tailor the exact layout to their specific space. The selected plant species were propagated by the North Carolina Botanical Garden.
In October 2024, we installed the habitat on three farms following our preparation guidelines. The habitat was a different configuration and size on each farm and included 340 - 880 plants, depending on the size. During Summer 2025, we will visit each farm once per month from approximately May - September. At each visit we will document establishment success of each plant species as well as the insect visitors to each bee species. Through these efforts we will also develop maintenance recommendations.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
One of the main objectives of our project proposal, Objective 3, includes an end-of-project workshop to share our findings with southeastern US growers. At this workshop we will share details of our habitat design, installation process, documented benefits, and any lessons learned. At the workshop, our farmer cooperator and participating farms will also share their experiences with this project. In addition to the workshop, we will also share our findings with at least one research journal publication, an oral presentation to a local grower meeting, an oral presentation at the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Lunchbox Talk series, a print and online article in the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s bi-annual magazine - Conservation Gardening, and an online article on NC State’s Cooperative Extension’s portal - Growing Small Farms.
Learning Outcomes
This effort is still in progress. So far, 3 farmers have gained hands-on experience in installing ecologically beneficial habitat.
Project Outcomes
This is still in progress. So far we have developed a modular habitat design, a plant species list designed to support a diversity of insects and to be active across the growing season, site preparation guidelines, and habitat installation guidelines.