Establishment of native pollinator habitat in organic and conventional small ruminant pastures

Establishment of native pollinator habitat in organic and conventional small ruminant pastures

Summary

Four pollinator plots were planted in fall 2015. It is too early to determine the success of establishment of native grasses and flowering species, but we will monitor the sites, at the USDA, Agricultural Research Service in Booneville, AR, and on two private farms throughout the summer and fall.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. Establish a native pollinator plot and nesting habitat on a certified organic pasture, a conventional pasture at ARS and two farms, all with small ruminants.
2. Determine establishment of each forage species, bloom date, and persistence.
3. Determine species of pollinators present in plots and activity in nesting sites.
4. Determine pollinator plant species response to small ruminant grazing and response of legumes in small ruminant plots to pollinators.

Accomplishments/Milestones

A native seed mix was planted in ½ acre conventional and organic small ruminant pastures on clean tilled seed beds at ARS and in ½ acre small ruminant pastures at the Coffey farm and adjacent to a small ruminant pasture at the Hale farm in late November 2014. The seed mix contained Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Virginia Wild Rye (Elymus virginicus), and a mix of wildflowers (Hamilton Native Outpost Butterfly and Hummingbird mix; Elk Creek, MO). Recommended conservation specifications were used to establish pollinator habitat areas. On April 1, 2015, weedy species such as curly dock and henbit were present, but very few native species had established yet. Many of these establish later in the season and may still out compete these cool season weeds. Thus, plots will continue to be monitored for establishment and bloom dates. Pollinators will be monitored. To date, only carpenter bees and a few honey bees have been spotted in the small ruminant pastures.

A pollinator workshop was held in August 2014 at Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center attended by 29 farmers, landowners, and extension specialists. The workshop was led by Anne Stine, a pollinator conservation specialist, Alayna Jacobs, an NRCS conservation specialist, and Joan Burke, a research animal scientist. Other speakers included a member of the Arkansas Native Plant Society, and an entomologist from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The workshop provided education to farmers, landowners, and extension specialists on the importance of native plants, native pollinator habitat, changing farmer habits to preserve pollinators, all of which will improve food supply for humans, livestock, and wildlife. As the pollinator plots mature, those interested will be led through the organic and conventional pastures to view the sites and learn the successes and failures of this project.

Collaborators: