Print pageEconomics of wildlife-friendly farming
The RSPB and rural property advisers Smiths Gore have joined forces to assess the profitability of managing farmland for wildlife in England, and it is good news for farmers.
You can make more money growing seed crops for birds or nectar crops for insects than growing wheat. Smiths Gore have done the sums on the measures used on the RSPB’s Hope Farm to reverse farmland bird declines.
It shows that Entry Level Stewardship payments fully compensate for the income foregone in changing from crop production to environmental management And smart use of these options can turn around a tidy profit.
The link to the Smiths Gore website from each page allows you to calculate your own profit margins from Environmental Stewardship.
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Buffer strips are one of the most popular options in Entry Level Stewardship (ELS), but a greater range of wildlife would benefit if there were nectar-rich flowering plants in the mixtures. In Higher Level Stewardship, the floristically enhanced grass margin option pays for the extra seed costs incurred in establishing flower-rich margins. More... |
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The main function of nectar flower mixtures is to provide pollen and nectar to sustain pollinating insects throughout the spring and summer. More... |
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If you have spring crops in your rotation, then over-wintered stubbles may be the easiest way for you to provide seed food for birds through the winter. More... |
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Simply creating two small skylark plots per hectare in winter cereals boosts skylark productivity in these crops by 50% and could reverse the decline of skylarks if enough farmers take this option up. More... |
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The decline of yellowhammers has been linked to a shortage of seed food through the winter. Wild bird seed mixtures are an unharvested mix of seed-bearing crops that will benefit species such as grey partridge and yellowhammer. More... |
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