Slide Presentation

TITLE    (click title to view slides)
Pollinator/Wildlife/Native Habitat

AUTHOR
Taylor Randell Singleton
Extension Sustainability Specialist
University of Georgia

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
  1. Pollinator/Wildlife/Native Habitat
  2. Increased Interest
  3. Pollinator Habitat on the Farm
  4. Beyond "Pollination"
  5. Environmental
  6. Environmental
  7. Pesticide Stewardship
  8. Public Engagement/Recreational
  9. Define Goal of the Site
  10. Think Through . . .
  11. Types of Plantings/Sites
  12. Wildlife Habitat
  13. Wildlife Incentive Programs
  14. Meadow
  15. Pollinator Habitat
  16. A Year of Pollinator Habitat
  17. Life Cycle is Important
  18. Let's Plant Habitat on the Farm!
  19. UGA Research Plan
  20. Year 1
  21. Year 1 = disaster
  22. UGA Research Plan
  23. UGA Research Plan
  24. Year 2/3 -> Switch Focus
  25. Screening for Everything (PRE)
  26. Screening for Everything (PRE)
  27. Fundamentals of Weed Science
  28. Creating a Systems Approach to Weed Control*
  29. Year 3 - Integrated Approach to Weed Mgmt
  30. Year 3 - Integrated Approach to Weed Mgmt
  31. Integrated Approach to Weed Mgmt
  32. Planting Method Influences Bloom
  33. Year 3 - Collaborating with NRCS
  34. NRCS Mixture - Site 1
  35. UGA Mixtures - Site 1
  36. NRCS Mixture - Site 2
  37. UGA Mixtures - Site 2
  38. My Thoughts - Natives vs Non-Natives
  39. Installation Recommendations
  40. Installation Recommendations
  41. Seed Sources
  42. Financial Resources



SLIDE CONTENTS
  1. Pollinator/Wildlife/Native Habitat Taylor Randell Singleton Extension Sustainability Specialist
  2. Support pollinators Vegetables/agronomic Pecans/citrus Cover crops Unused land – dry corner, field borders, unproductive area Meadows Agrotourism – U-pick/photography Dry corners Wildlife “habitat” Increased Interest
  3. Impact on day-to-day life: 30% of world’s food is pollinated 130+ fruits and vegetable plants 1 in 3 bites of food Why should you care??? $18-27 billion/yr in US crop yields GA = $635 million Services from pollinators is FREE! Indirect cash crop??? Pollinator Habitat on the Farm
  4. No Pollination….no seed….no fruit….no profit….. Why else should we consider? Environmental/ecological stewardship Implications for pesticide stewardship Public engagement/recreational Beyond “Pollination”
  5. Environmental/ecological stewardship Biodiversity ? diverse diet Wildlife habitat Help control pests ? predators/parasitoids Environmental
  6. Environmental quality Filter pollutants (runoff/erosion) Improves air quality “Heat island” effect in urban areas Increase soil OM/water infiltration Sequester carbon Environmental
  7. Indirect ROI…..hard to quantify Don’t directly increase yield, etc. Extra expense to install/maintain Direct Implications Supporting endangered/listed/sensitive species Mitigation for runoff/erosion Pesticide Stewardship
  8. Positive public engagement Eye catching Conversations about what’s happening on the farm Get people onto the farm! Wildlife/hunting habitat Economic benefits Enjoyment Connection to nature Public Engagement/Recreational
  9. What does the grower want to accomplish? This will inform: What to plant When to plant How to manage the site for longevity What financial resources are available And most importantly…..what to EXPECT! Define Goal of the Site
  10. Timeline Land/space commitment Timeframe to establishment Ground coverage constraints Think Through…. Logistics Equipment Site conditions (sun/shade/wet/dry) WEED PRESSURE Management potential (Burning? Mowing?) Site history
  11. Wildlife/hunting habitat Quail, others Meadow Grasses, habitat/grazing (?) Pollinator habitat Pollinating insects, flowers Hybrid Cover crops, pollinator, agrotourism, etc. Types of Plantings/Sites
  12. Many resources available in GA for private landowners: Georgia DNR Private Lands Program (PLP) Wildlife biologists Quail Forever Conservation/Farm Bill biologists NRCS Resource concern/planning Georgia Foresty Commission Land planning Wildlife Habitat
  13. Including technical assistance and/or financial incentives **START HERE*** GA DNR Landowner’s Guide to Conservation Resources https://indd.adobe.com/view/04519a6a-5d2b-44a7-b452-890ef04b8c7d DNR/Quail Forever Bobwhite Quail Incentive (BQI) https://georgiawildlife.com/bobwhite-quail DNR/GFC Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) https://gatrees.org/forest-management-conservation/forest-stewardship-program/ DNR Open Habitat Incentive (OHI) Program https://georgiawildlife.com/open-habitat-initiative-rcpp NRCS – Working Lands for Wildlife (Gopher Tortoise) https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/working-lands-for-wildlife/gopher-tortoise Wildlife Incentive Programs
  14. Predominately native grasses (typical) 65-70% of total space LONG TERM COMMITMENT Often naturally around wooded habitat sites MUST keep out “invasives” Can have forbs included Hard to establish but easy to maintain Research is growing in this area NRCS GA PMC https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/B987-4/native-plants-for-georgia-part-iv-grasses-and-sedges-2/ Meadow
  15. “Flower-rich” habitat supporting pollinating insects, birds, bats, etc. Flowering plants, grasses, shrubs, trees Nectar/pollen throughout growing season (spring/summer/fall) Water availability Nesting/foraging materials Types of species included: Native Non-native (commercialized, ornamental) Pollinator Habitat
  16. A Year of Pollinator Habitat Winter ------------------------------Spring -----------------------------------Summer/Fall----------------------------After 1st Freeze/Frost-----
  17. Life Cycle is Important
  18. Let’s Plant Habitat on the Farm! Unproductive, bare area of farm Can I go throw out some seed? Not recommended! Think back to timeline/logistics $$$$$ Many challenges and questions: What species? How to plant? Maintenance? WEED CONTROL????
  19. UGA Research Plan Goal = help you implement pollinators habitat on your farm Mixture of native species Weed control during establishment PRE (residuals) POST (cleanup) Persistence over time
  20. Year 1 UGA Ponder Farm (TyTy, GA) 23 native species Overhead irrigation Hand weeded = no competition PRE/POSTs NTC for every species *Perfect planting/growing conditions*
  21. Year 1 = disaster Seeding rate = 0.5-3.7 lb/a Emergence rate = 0-1% …across 2 sites!
  22. UGA Research Plan Goal = help you implement pollinators habitat on your farm Mixture of native species Weed control during establishment PRE (residuals) POST (cleanup) Persistence
  23. UGA Research Plan
  24. Start with commercialized annuals, add in natives after establishment Fast growing Hardy Herbicide tolerance? PRE herbicides ? screen for tolerance across wide range of products Zinnia, Cosmo, Marigold, Mexican sunflower Year 2/3 ? Switch Focus
  25. Screening for Everything (PRE) 3 years ….and running!
  26. Screening for Everything (PRE) Data Collected Injury/tolerance Height Stand Time to bloom Bloom counts
  27. Principles of SOUND weed management still apply!!!! Remembering what Drs. Culpepper/Prostko have taught us for years Systems approach, diversified, timely, smart! Fundamentals of Weed Science Clean @ planting PRE residuals POST if needed…keep it clean Manage grass On Going Work Systems approach How to plant for optimum ground coverage?
  28. Creating a Systems Approach to Weed Control* *Fall 2024/Spring 2025 – 1 location; 3 reps 2026: Expand on tank mixtures/study rates….add new products?
  29. Year 3 – Integrated Approach to Weed Mgmt
  30. Year 3 – Integrated Approach to Weed Mgmt
  31. Integrated Approach to Weed Mgmt Ground Coverage (%) Ratio: Zinnia/Cosmo/Marigold/Mex Sun 25% faster ground coverage w/drilled Consider higher ratios of “aggressive growers”
  32. Planting Method Influences Bloom 25% faster blooming w/ drilled = More time for pollinator services
  33. Year 3 – Collaborating with NRCS UGA + NRCS USDA Jimmy Carter Plant Material Center Comparing UGA vs NRCS “mixes” What establishes? Blooms? Weed control? UGA Mix NRCS Mix
  34. NRCS Mixture – Site 1 PRE: treflan POST: none Flwr1-24 51 DAP No herbicide PRE: none POST: cadre
  35. UGA Mixtures – Site 1 Ratios = Zinnia/Cosmo/Marigold/Mexican sunflower 40/30/20/10 “low” seeding rate Flwr1-24 51 DAP 25/25/25/25 40/30/20/10 “high” seeding rate
  36. NRCS Mixture – Site 2 PRE: treflan POST: none Flwr2-24 Ponder Farm 51 DAP No herbicide PRE: none POST: cadre
  37. UGA Mixtures – Site 2 Ratios = Zinnia/Cosmo/Marigold/Mexican sunflower 40/30/20/10 “low” seeding rate Flwr2-24 Ponder Farm 51 DAP 25/25/25/25 40/30/20/10 “high” seeding rate Few weeds, great ground coverage….. ….cover the ground to suppress weed for native establishment next “season”?
  38. Long-term, these habitats need to be majority natives Regen. mechanisms are adapted for GA Less potential for “invasive/weedy” characteristics But, NOT competitive with weeds and SLOOOOOOW Non-native, commercial species can buy us time…. Cover the ground, suppress weeds Lots of blooms and color year 1 Still providing a service to pollinators My Thoughts - Natives vs Non-Natives
  39. Start getting rid of weeds NOW! Burndown herbicides/tillage to clean site Once established, NO KNOWN OPTIONS for broadleaf weeds Select species and mixes: Program requirements? Select suitable mix carefully (SE adapted species, wet/dry site) Supplement with non-native (zinnia, cosmo) Creating their own? I like UGA mix with understanding to supplement year 2 & add natives overtime Installation Recommendations
  40. Be prepared to spot spray if needed Manage over winter – after first frost/freeze Consider leaving residue (it will look bad but it’s really good habitat!) Mow after frost/before green up to spread seed Burning is also good Installation Recommendations
  41. Roundstone Native Seed Company Mix SS-W1 - Southern Pollinator Conservation Mix - Roundstone Native Seed Company Mix HB-1 - Honey Bee Specialty Mix - Roundstone Native Seed Company Mix 124 - Coastal Mixed Grass Meadow Economy Mix - Roundstone Native Seed Company Mix 122 - Coastal Mixed Grass Meadow Mix - Roundstone Native Seed Company Mix 118 - Coastal Tall Grass Meadow Mix - Roundstone Native Seed Company Mix 178 - Southern Annual and Perennial Native Wildflower Garden Mix - Roundstone Native Seed Company – *this is my preferred mix based on the components Ernst Conservation Seeds Ernst Southeastern U.S. Roadside Native Mix Seed (this mix includes a native grass) Southeast Annual and Perennial Wildflower Mix – *this is my preferred mix based on the components Eden Brothers Commercialized annuals, non-native, ornamentals Seed Sources
  42. Financial Resources https://indd.adobe.com/view/04519a6a-5d2b-44a7-b452-890ef04b8c7d