Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
- Education and Training: demonstration, extension, networking, workshop
- Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, carbon sequestration, drift/runoff buffers, hedgerows, hedges - grass, hedges - woody, riparian buffers, wildlife
- Pest Management: biological control, cultural control, integrated pest management
Proposal abstract:
In the Midwest, perching birds and
raptors play a vital role in controlling farm pests.
Many farmers see these birds as
beneficial (Kross et al. 2018) and want professional assistance
with determining how to support their reduction of insect pests
and rodents, and how to manage pest birds when they cause trouble
(Bardenhagen, et al. 2020). The majority of bird species that
visit farms are beneficial during nesting season when they
provide critical pest control services. We can encourage them
year-round by increasing farm habitat and diversity with
cost-effective on-the-ground integrated pest management (IPM)
practices. If pest birds are a problem, they can be discouraged
with specific practices during the short periods when they cause
damage.
To increase adoption of bird-friendly
and bird-deterrent practices on Midwest farms, agricultural
professionals and farmers must be trained on the latest research,
tools and resources that support and manage the roles of birds on
farms. To that end, WFA is
developing a comprehensive education project to empower
agricultural professionals to help farmers adopt sustainable pest
management practices, reduce reliance on pesticides and support
biodiversity. Key components of the project that will reach at
least 1,450 agricultural professionals and farmers include a new
publication focused on best practices for nesting structures;
three videos that highlight farmers and researchers; two field
days to demonstrate practices; a 10-webinar online training
course led by instructors who
have conducted avian pest control research, and/or have
experience with farm conservation practices and pest management
strategies; and an online
resource library.
Project objectives from proposal:
Products we will produce
include:
- Five-minute
videos: We will create three
short videos highlighting farmer success with practices and
research that supports avian IPM. Topics we anticipate covering
include 1) using songbird nest boxes to support pest control on
row crop farms; 2) conserving prairies
that support beneficial birds for pest control in corn and
soybean fields; 3) using habitat to support beneficial birds in
cucurbit production. - Publication:
We will produce printed and online
versions of the Nesting
Structures for Beneficial Songbirds on the Farm
for the Midwest.
This publication will address how to
match the existing landscape (e.g. open field or forest edge)
to the bird species that will likely be drawn there, concerns
when placing the box, correct nest box designs and proper
installation. It will also cover monitoring and maintenance
activities that will support the long-term success of the nest
boxes. - On-Farm Field
Days: We will co-host two
on-farm field days for agricultural professionals and farmers
that will be ½ day long with multiple speakers and
presentations, including a farm
walk. - Online Training
Course: We will create a
10-webinar interactive online training course to empower
agricultural professionals and farmers to incorporate practices
that foster beneficial birds and manage pest birds. The course
topics and one-hour classes will
be:
-
- Class 1: Introduction and
overview to birds as pest control allies on a
farm - Class 2: Beneficial songbirds
for pest control and the insects they
eat - Class 3: Beneficial raptors for
pest control - Class 4: Nest boxes and perches
and the birds who use them - Class 5: Field edge habitat
supporting beneficial birds in a multitude of
crops - Class 6: Prairies supporting
avian pest control in adjacent corn and
soybeans - Class 7: Forestry stewardship
for supporting birds in maple syrup
production - Class 8: Learning to co-exist
and manage pest birds - Class 9: Keeping farms safe for
beneficial
birds - Class 10: Habitat
diversification to increase beneficial bird species
- Class 1: Introduction and
- Online Resource
Library: We will compile the
following in an online resource library, with downloadable pdfs
(existing and newly created) videos (created through this
project), for a wider reach of agricultural professionals and
farmers to learn from during the classes and to use later when
giving presentations themselves:
-
- Recorded webinars in the online
training course - Three 5-minute
videos - Newly produced publication
(Nesting Structures) - WFA’s previously produced bird
resources that support the online courses
(Supporting Beneficial
Birds and Managing Pest Birds
and
Beneficial Bird Native Plant
Chart)
- Recorded webinars in the online