Print
Wild bird seed mixtures
Why create wild bird seed mixtures?
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.
This option also provides cover for gamebirds if you have a shooting interest. It holds the highest density of birds of any habitat on the farm through the winter, so providing a wildlife spectacle for you and your visitors to enjoy.
The cost-benefit analysis opposite shows that the Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) payment means it is marginally less profitable to grow a hectare of wild bird seed mixture than it is to grow a hectare of wheat, if you take into account the savings in fixed costs. However, over the course of an agreement, the lower gross margins of other crops in the rotation will put the net profit of ELS wild bird seed mixtures back in the black.
What you can do
Research suggests that two hectares of wild bird seed mixture per km2 (or 100 hectares) is sufficient to provide seed food for birds through the winter.
You can put these in awkward field corners, but site the mixtures away from woods to attract seed-eating birds of open farmland and to minimise the risk of predator attacks. Also do not site them on unproductive areas – the field corner option may be more appropriate in such areas.
Cereals are a useful component for buntings, and brassicas are useful for finches. A mix of cereals and broad-leaved crops will also benefit gamebirds and other seed-eating birds.
Use the optimal amount of fertiliser, and protect the crop from weeds, pests and diseases if required to achieve a good yield of seeds.
These crops are normally sown in the spring, but if spring crop establishment is not possible, then crops can be established in the autumn to provide winter seed food in the following year. It is useful to have such crops staggered so that seed food is available every winter.
Economic analysis
(by Smiths Gore farm management)
The analysis compares a hectare of wild bird seed mixture and a hectare of winter wheat.
| Winter wheat | Wild bird seed mixture |
| Income from crop | £1,020 | |
| Income from ELS | | £450 |
| Variable costs | -£420 | -£159 |
| Savings in fixed costs | | £295 |
| Net margin | £600 | £586 |
| Change in net margin | | -£14 |
Assumptions
Winter wheat yield: 8.5 t / ha
Winter wheat value: £120 / tonne
Variable costs of option spread over 5 years
- £200 (seed every two years)
- £99 (establishment - disc £22, power harrow £32, drill £30, roll £15)
- £9 (1 hour knapsack spray injurious weeds).
For further details and help in doing your own calculations, visit the Smiths Gore website.
Case study
Chris Dowse, Hall Farm, Lincolnshire
'The mixtures have been created to provide food and cover for grey partridges and seed food for other farmland birds. Awkward field corners identified by the estate staff have been taken out of crop production.
'Our cultivations are done as we prepare land for our spring crops. We use a commercial seed mixture from a game cover specialist, which costs us £46 per acre (£115 per ha).
'We use 70 kg of N, mainly to feed the kale. We often have to spray to control flea beetle. We have used sweet clover in the past, but this swamped the mix, so we will avoid using it again.'
What can I do?
Post your questions and ideas on the discussion forum, or read case studies of how farmers are benefiting wildlife
Visit the Farm Wildlife website
Last modified: 25 June 2009