Conservation farming techniques

ESSEX COUNTY FARMER RECOGNIZED FOR POLLINATOR PROTECTION EFFORTS

OTTAWA, CANADA OCT 29 – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is
honoured to join the Pollinator Partnership and Canadian Forage and
Grassland Association in congratulating David Ainslie as the 2015 recipient
of the Canadian Farmer-Rancher Pollinator Conservation Award. The annual
award collects nominations from across Canada and recognizes the
contributions Canadian farmers make towards protecting our country’s
irreplaceable pollinators and pollinator habitats.

An innovative farmer who was among the first in his area of Essex County,
Ontario to adopt conservation farming techniques, such as no-till cropping,
David Ainslie has worked tirelessly to incorporate his understanding of
natural systems into his farm operation. By designating some 40 acres of
his land as natural areas – featuring a woodlot, rock chutes, windbreaks
and pollinator garden, just to name a few – David has succeeded in
improving water quality and wildlife habitat on his farm, while proving
that conservation efforts and conventional farming can work well together.

“The important contribution that pollinators have on our everyday lives
cannot be overlooked, as they directly contribute to the production of
one-third of the human diet,” said CFA President Ron Bonnett. “I commend
Mr. Ainslie for his leadership in farmland conservation and innovative
efforts in protecting pollinator habitats.”

Canada is home to more than 1,000 species of pollinators, including bees,
butterflies, moths, bats and beetles, and are essential to the production
of over $1 billion annually in Canadian produce such as apples, berries,
squash, melons and much more. The indispensable impact that these species
have on our country’s agricultural sector is why Canadian farmers are
dedicated to finding long-term solutions that will further support the
conservation of pollinators.

The CFA is proud to collaborate with the Pollinator Partnership and
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, encouraging conservation
stewardship on Canada’s farms while showcasing positive advancements in the
effort to protect pollinators.

For more information and to see past award winner profiles, visit
http://cfa-fca.ca/programs-projects/pollinator-protection.

3 replies on “Conservation farming techniques

  • Robert Shelfer

    Are you guys using bats on your farms for night flying insect control? I just heard a talk about bats.

    Washed the mold off my refrigerated cocoons with 6% bleach water added to one gallon of water. I put the plastic bee container in a paper sack.

    Bob

    Reply
    • Margriet

      Interesting question about bats. I have not been in direct contact with this farmer. Please do so and let us know. Could you email me the direct link to the bats in farm article. I could not locate it on the website you sent us. Also about the bleach solution- the bleach solution is one cap of bleach- (about a table spoon) in a gallon of water. This makes 0.05% bleach. Not 6%.Dr Margriet

      Reply
  • Robert Shelfer

    Please click on the link to a USDS article about the importance of bats and their habitat and bats on farms
    The farm that uses bats to combat insect pests is an organic pecan farm in Georgia that was plagued by the larva of hickory shuckworm moths.

    In today’s COLUMBIAN (Nov 8, Vancouver, WA page E4) RESEARCHERS TEST WAYS TO REDUCE INSECTS’ IMPACT ON CRANBERRIES. As with the pecans, cranberry farmers are dealing with moth larva. Bats eat moths. Bob

    Reply

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