Designing Ecologically Beneficial Habitat for Diverse Farming Systems

Project Overview

OS24-171
Project Type: On-Farm Research
Funds awarded in 2024: $30,000.00
Projected End Date: 03/31/2026
Grant Recipient: North Carolina State University
Region: Southern
State: North Carolina
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Angel Cruz
Email
Center for Environmental Farming Systems - NC State University

Information Products

Commodities

  • Additional Plants: native plants
  • Animals: bees

Practices

  • Crop Production: pollinator habitat
  • Education and Training: demonstration, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research
  • Natural Resources/Environment: habitat enhancement, wildlife
  • Production Systems: agroecosystems

    Abstract:

    We developed a program to help growers better implement habitat using 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 project addressed the Beneficial Insect Habitat and Increasing Sustainability of Existing Farming Practices focal areas by developing a plant mix that provides habitat for native beneficial insects on farms and encourages a practice that will increase the sustainability of farms. Our project team included 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).

    Project 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 

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.