tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post109055686035262082..comments2024-03-26T22:16:26.572-04:00Comments on Terrierman's Daily Dose: Making Hay and Losing BirdsPBurnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05781540805883519064noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-69957750474791825652008-03-25T21:57:00.000-04:002008-03-25T21:57:00.000-04:00Sadly, the birds have little economic value and do...Sadly, the birds have little economic value and do not vote. An organic designation simply means that pesticides and herbicides are not used; there are no points for creating habitat. Indeed, because organic farms already lose so much from bugs and weeds, they have to be particularly vigilant to keep deer and groundhog numbers down, and to keep production out. Some birds keep bugs numbers down, but in a hayfield, this is generally a pretty minimal benefit.<BR/><BR/>P.PBurnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05781540805883519064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-89452871485063195672008-03-25T16:29:00.000-04:002008-03-25T16:29:00.000-04:00It doesn't sound to hard to make some nesting avai...It doesn't sound to hard to make some nesting available to the birds. I will have to talk to my family and see what we can do to have some space we only cut once a year then. Are those birds bringing any benefits to the farmer. If doing these things will in the end help the farmer, they would more likely be willing to look into all of that. Is there anything that you can tell me off hand. See our families ranch is certified organic, now if the birds are in some way helpful in organic farming that would be beautiful.<BR/><BR/>TobiTobias Kroekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898128227008554846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-56852061084014706482008-03-25T11:24:00.000-04:002008-03-25T11:24:00.000-04:00Timing hay production can help, but it means less ...Timing hay production can help, but it means less production as you will lose a cut, which is generally not economically feasible. For a very good article, see >> http://scnyat.cce.cornell.edu/grassland/pdf/Hayfields&Grassland_Birds.pdf <BR/><BR/>The next best thing to do is to leave ratty margins to your fields (15 feet or so). These wide areas along fence lines should only be mowed once a year in September, which is well past the time of nesting. These wide margins may result in double nesting of birds (two clutches).<BR/><BR/>Another simple thing to do is to always leave the corners of your fields uncut and wide -- when the rig turns, just sweep a bit wider and leave it fallow at the corner. That extra-wide area, along with a wide strip at the margins, may be enough to help quite a lot.<BR/><BR/>P.PBurnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05781540805883519064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-55355246420562884072008-03-25T06:25:00.000-04:002008-03-25T06:25:00.000-04:00I never thought about hay that way. What can we do...I never thought about hay that way. What can we do to make sure to preserve grassland birds? Is there a time where we shouldn't take in the hay? I am pro Grass Fed Beef and from time to time work at our family ranch. What are your suggestions?Tobias Kroekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898128227008554846noreply@blogger.com