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Using a novel seed mix to rejuvenate tame pastures and create pollinator habitat

 

Project Details

  • Project Leads:  Kim Wolfe (Manitoba Agriculture) & Mae Elsinger (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

  • Collaborators: Dr. Stephanie Frischie (Xerces Society), Jane Thornton (Manitoba Agriculture)

  • Years: 2018-2021

  • Project Status: Complete

  • Funding & In-Kind Sponsors: Canadian Agricultural Partnership, General Mills, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

  • Location: Johnson Farm

  • Scope: Demonstration

  • Keywords: Habitat Biodiversity, Perennial Forages, Forage Rejuvenation

Approach

Improve low diversity pasture and establish pollinator habitat by planting a blend of legumes, tame forbs, and native forbs.

Test chemical and grazing suppression of existing pasture, as well as two direct seeding methods: broadcast followed by mob grazing, and drill seeding. This demonstration also monitored forage productivity, quality, and wildflower abundance.

Key Findings

Suppression: Chemical suppression is better than grazing suppression for limiting vigour of the existing grass species and allowing less competitive seedlings to establish.

Seeding: More establishment occurred in the drill seeding method than the broadcast and mob graze method.

Establishment: Low precipitation in 2018 and 2019 impacted establishment success. Alfalfa was most abundant; purple prairie clover, Maximillian sunflower, ladino clover occurred less frequently, and the others were rare or did not establish.

Cattle Integration: Cattle grazed in subsequent growing seasons.

Early spring grazing:

  • Prior to much forage growth

  • Frequent moves

  • Goal to reduce existing grass biomass and reduce competition for seeded plants.

Late fall grazing:

  • After forage stopped growing

  • Allowed seeded plants to have a full growing season to grow, produce seed, and prepare for winter.