Pasture for pollinators

Descriptions

PROJECT DESCRIPTION1.1 IntroductionThis project is funded through the European Innovation Partnership programme https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/european-innovation-partnership-eip-wales, the role of which is to ‘to pool expertise and resources by bringing groups of people from different practical and scientific backgrounds together to tackle specific challenges, and trial new approaches which will be of value to others in the agricultural or forestry industry.’In Wales the implementation of the programme is managed by Menter a Busnes. Individual projects are managed and supported by ‘Innovation Brokers’, who are funded (separately and in addition to the EIP programme) though Farming Connect.This project is led by Calon Wen Organic Milk Cooperative, and is managed by an ‘Operational Group’ which includes Calon Wen and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)1.2ObjectivesThe project explores how forage resources on dairy farms can be managed to conserve and enhance populations of bumblebees and other pollinators by increasing the number and diversity of food plants and period over in which they are in flower. These management practices include:•Use of specialised seed mixtures•Leaving uncut field margins.•Delayed grazing of flower rich/ semi improved pastures1.3Time ScaleThe project will run for three years from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020.1.4LocationThe work will be carried out on 6 farms, all members of Calon Wen Organic Milk Cooperative. Four are located in North East Wales and 2 in South West Wales.1.5Project activitiesExperimental designThe experimental design will take into consideration the desired level of statistical robustness of the data and the practicalities of implementing the options on farm. The experimental design will be reviewed annually in the light of the previous years’ experience.Data collection and collationOn each of the 6 farms, at least one of the following management options, will be implemented•Use of specialised seed mixtures including, for example, bird’s-foot trefoil, lesser knapweed and tufted vetch to enhance pollinator populations.•Uncut field margins. Farmers will sow 2 seed mixes across a trial field, one of which will include the ‘new’ mix formulated at the project’s inception in partnership with a seed company. Margins will be surveyed prior to first cut in late May, then again in June and July.•Late grazed flower rich/ semi improved pastures: Potential sites will be identified in year one and base line data collected. The impact of delaying grazing and/or deferring grazing until the following year will be assessed in terms of pollinator populations.Pollinator population surveys will be carried out at strategic points during the year/ forage production cycle on each of the project sites, in each of the three project years, and for each of the management options. Bumblebees will be identified to species and other pollinators classified in line with the Glastir Monitoring and Evaluation Programme criteria.The data will be collated and analysed to detect any impact of the various management options on pollinator populations in general and of bumblebees in particular.In addition to pollinator population data, where pea crops (mostly as ‘combicrops’) are planted adjacent to trial site, data on the number of pods per plant will be collected (as an indicator of the number of flowers pollinated) to give some indication of the value of pollinators to the farming system in terms of increased productivity. This is not considered the main focus of the project, but where the opportunities arise to collect this information, we will take them.Preparation of technical reportsTechnical reports will be prepared at the end of each year/ season which will:•Interpret the data in terms of the likely benefits of the different management options for pollinators•Present preliminary findings and draw preliminary conclusions•Make recommendations at the end of each year which will feed into the annual review of the experimental designAt the end of the project a final report will collate all the information from all sites, in all years and present the overall findings and conclusions of the project.Development of Knowledge Exchange resourcesKnowledge Exchange resources, based on the technical reports, will be prepared, aimed at grassland farmers and other land managers, providing clear, practical guidance on the steps that can be taken to conserve and enhance pollinator populations in a commercial farming context. These resources may take the form of leaflets, factsheets, manuals, infographics or other formats/ media that are considered appropriate.Communication of findingsThe outcomes of the projects will be communicated to farmers, researchers, advisors, policy makers, consumers and other interested parties through:•An information dissemination programme that may include press articles, e-bulletin/ news items, blogs, social media posts/ tweets, and broadcast media.•A series of 12 open days (two per year in each of North and South Wales, in each of the three project years). These will be funded separately through the Farming Connect programme, and should not be included in this tender. However, the contractor will be be expected to make staff available to contribute to these events.Refer to attachment for further details.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=74900.