While the final shape of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and make-up of REPS is still undecided, agricultural policies at EU level are clearly moving to have a much greater environmental focus. This has been clear from the recent Farm to Fork and biodiversity strategies launched at EU level.
A bean crop provides space for wild flowers to grow and birds to forage in.
With this in mind, a new biodiversity study in east Cork aims to draw together all published research and experience to identify measures and practices to improve farmland bird populations on tillage farms.
The €10,000 study is being funded by South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD) and Irish Distillers and is being carried out by some of the group of farmers and ecologists who were involved in setting up the BRIDE Project in Cork and Waterford.
A hedgerow that has been too severely cut, poor for biodiversity and everything else.
Unlike the situation on intensive grassland where biodiversity tends to be found mostly in the areas not being farmed such as hedgerows, wetlands and woodland, in arable areas the crop itself or the uncultivated stubble between crops can be a very valuable habitat
Reliant on grain-growing areas
A number of bird species are heavily reliant on grain-growing areas for their survival, and birds such as the yellowhammer, stock dove, grey partridge and the now extinct corn bunting are strongly associated with the habitat provided by cereal farmland.
It has long been known that changes to farming practices, such as greater use of pesticides, the switch from spring to winter cereals and more efficient farming practices have contributed to serious declines in the populations of these and other species.
Stubble left unsprayed over the winter can provide a valuable habitat for birds, plants and insects.
The hopeful indicators are that the solutions needed to reverse the declines of these species are relatively simple to implement.
Cover crops, selective trimming of hedgerows and judicious use of pesticides all help to make a difference and these types of measures have helped reverse the declines of some bird species in Europe.
Loss of stubble
The loss of winter stubble has been implicated in the decline of a number of species, but, to date, the BRIDE Project appears to be the only scheme where farmers are paid to leave stubble unsprayed and uncultivated until early spring.
Stubble sprayed off contains far less biodiversity.
Small but properly implemented changes in management can make a big difference and while biodiversity is the focus of this study there are obvious crossover benefits for carbon sequestration and water quality from measures such as hedgerow planting and green overwinter cover.
Results from the study will hopefully go towards developing a scheme specific for tillage farmers who will be rewarded for implementing measures which will be proven to help support natural habitats and wildlife.
Read more
Boortmalt to stick with reduced intake
Tillage incomes sink 15% in 2019 as costs rise
While the final shape of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and make-up of REPS is still undecided, agricultural policies at EU level are clearly moving to have a much greater environmental focus. This has been clear from the recent Farm to Fork and biodiversity strategies launched at EU level.
A bean crop provides space for wild flowers to grow and birds to forage in.
With this in mind, a new biodiversity study in east Cork aims to draw together all published research and experience to identify measures and practices to improve farmland bird populations on tillage farms.
The €10,000 study is being funded by South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD) and Irish Distillers and is being carried out by some of the group of farmers and ecologists who were involved in setting up the BRIDE Project in Cork and Waterford.
A hedgerow that has been too severely cut, poor for biodiversity and everything else.
Unlike the situation on intensive grassland where biodiversity tends to be found mostly in the areas not being farmed such as hedgerows, wetlands and woodland, in arable areas the crop itself or the uncultivated stubble between crops can be a very valuable habitat
Reliant on grain-growing areas
A number of bird species are heavily reliant on grain-growing areas for their survival, and birds such as the yellowhammer, stock dove, grey partridge and the now extinct corn bunting are strongly associated with the habitat provided by cereal farmland.
It has long been known that changes to farming practices, such as greater use of pesticides, the switch from spring to winter cereals and more efficient farming practices have contributed to serious declines in the populations of these and other species.
Stubble left unsprayed over the winter can provide a valuable habitat for birds, plants and insects.
The hopeful indicators are that the solutions needed to reverse the declines of these species are relatively simple to implement.
Cover crops, selective trimming of hedgerows and judicious use of pesticides all help to make a difference and these types of measures have helped reverse the declines of some bird species in Europe.
Loss of stubble
The loss of winter stubble has been implicated in the decline of a number of species, but, to date, the BRIDE Project appears to be the only scheme where farmers are paid to leave stubble unsprayed and uncultivated until early spring.
Stubble sprayed off contains far less biodiversity.
Small but properly implemented changes in management can make a big difference and while biodiversity is the focus of this study there are obvious crossover benefits for carbon sequestration and water quality from measures such as hedgerow planting and green overwinter cover.
Results from the study will hopefully go towards developing a scheme specific for tillage farmers who will be rewarded for implementing measures which will be proven to help support natural habitats and wildlife.
Read more
Boortmalt to stick with reduced intake
Tillage incomes sink 15% in 2019 as costs rise
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