Using Native Forb Species to Enhance Forage Diversity for Livestock and Pollinators

View the project report

Commodities

• Agronomic: grass (misc. perennial), hay

Practices

• Crop Production: pollinator habitat
• Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research
• Natural Resources/Environment: habitat enhancement

The intensification of agriculture has led to the loss of habitat for pollinators. Producers using innovative strategies to meet production needs are finding ways to reduce environmental impacts. Organic production methods have reduced the use of pesticides but often do not directly address the loss of habitat for wild pollinators on which both crops and ecosystem services depend. Current efforts introducing pollinator habitat into agricultural production directly address these needs by enhancing forage production with pollinator habitat while emphasizing the social-ecological benefits of sustainable agriculture.

The proposed project explores establishing native prairie plants in grassed systems for organic producers. We seek to expand a project that began in the fall of 2022 to characterize the establishment of native forbs within the herbaceous layer of livestock forage. Farmers in western Washington state in the San Juan Islands recognize the need to conserve pollinator habitat and have demonstrated a need for technical assistance regarding regenerative pasture management and no-till methods to grow and sustain viable businesses. If funded, this project will provide evidence-based technical assistance for professionals and producers to address these needs by managing pastures for forage production and biological diversity of pollinators.

By providing education for producers, research findings from this project will help to determine best management practices available to organic farmers for the introduction of prairie plants into forage production systems. Producers will gain knowledge of appropriate methods to be able to integrate management of regenerative forage production with pollinator habitat enhancement practices.

Project objectives to characterize the establishment of native pollinator habitat using native forbs to enhance livestock forage production and provide education using our research findings:

• Test seeding methodology to determine if there is a difference in outcome between no-till and broadcast seeding;
• Test the effects of tilling during site preparation on native pollinator plant establishment; 
• Test early-season mowing to determine if increased mowing in the spring over multiple years can influence forb establishment among competitive pasture grasses;
• Host field days for producers to discuss the research results informing best management practices;
• Present project findings at the San Juan County Agricultural Summit;
• Work with Master Gardeners to distribute findings via peer-to-peer educators;
• Present project results at a professional conference; and
• Publish a peer-reviewed journal article