Biodiversity protection during agricultural work
The size of agricultural machinery has increased to boost worksite throughput. This enlargement, combined with an increase in equipment speed, has a detrimental effect on small wildlife during harvest[1] or maintenance of grassy areas.
Objectives
Several techniques can be considered to reduce pressure on the environment, notably by using scare bars or by working in a centrifugal manner (starting from the center of the plot moving outward) during mowing and agricultural work.
Expected Benefits
Regarding small game populations (hare and pheasant), it has been estimated that mowing causes the death of 15 to 20% of individuals present within the plot[2].
Methodology
Forage harvesting (May-June) is the most critical period. To limit the impact of agricultural work (mowing, harvesting, stubble cultivation, etc.), it is recommended to implement certain measures:
- Use of scare bars either with combs or chains. Ideally, it will be necessary to alternate the type of bar depending on the periods[3] (see characteristics table below). These tools disturb the cover before the passage of the implement, causing the animals present to move.
Scare bar with chains or combs. Photo sources: FDC 58 (left image) and FDC 41 (right image).
- Centrifugal work[4]: The so-called centripetal work favors the concentration of animals in the last strips worked, thus creating a deadly trap for the fauna present. Centrifugal work encourages animals to flee towards the outside of the plot.
- Maintain a reasonable forward speed of machinery.
Expert's Word
“During the first weeks of their lives, the survival technique of young mammals is immobility. When a machine approaches, the probability of spontaneous flight is low or even nonexistent. The combination of these measures will help limit the impact of work during sensitive periods.” David Granger, agriculture, wildlife and game damage project manager at the French Office for Biodiversity
Two examples of wildlife-friendly work itineraries
Source: “Faune Sauvage” magazine no. 291, 2nd quarter 2011. Inspired by “Agriculture and biodiversity” J. BERTRAND, 2001.
How to implement this practice on my farm?
The cost of a scare bar ranges between €1500 and €2500 excluding tax (depending on width) or a minimum of €300 to €500 (for a homemade version). Locally, some departmental hunting federations or other hunting associations acquire bars to make them freely available to willing farmers. To benefit, contact the federation's technical service.
Technical characteristics of a scare bar
| Comb bar | Chain bar | |
|---|---|---|
| Usage period | Summer: from April to August | Winter: from September to March |
| Type of cover | Mowing of meadow or alfalfa (Haymaking)
Maintenance of grassy strips |
Maintenance of grassy strips
Green manure destruction |
| Principle | The combs lightly touching the ground push the
animals to force them out of their hiding |
The chains sliding on the ground or
cover make noise and disturb the cover to unsettle the animals |
| Spacing | 30 cm between each comb | 30 cm between each chain |
| Technical characteristic | A comb must be at least 45 cm long | A chain must be 45 cm long
and heavy enough not to wrap around the shaft |
| To be installed on the tractor front linkage or adapted to the weight. | ||
For further reading
In the case of forage harvesting, it may be beneficial to leave an unharvested strip on the edges. This can be frequented by birds during nesting periods. If the forage has flowers, leaving a strip will also benefit flying insects (pollinators and beneficial insects). Mowing later your forage allows for more pollinators, supports small fauna reproduction, and saves on seed costs.
Also read The scare bar - Agrifaune
Sources
- ↑ Barbier L.; 1979. Impact of dehydrating alfalfa cuts on local fauna, ONC Monthly Bulletin, no. 26, pp. 18-21
- ↑ Guitton J-S. et al.; 2017. How to reduce the impact of mechanical mowing of meadows on small lowland game, Faune sauvage, no. 317, pp. 83-88
- ↑ Drouyer F., Heckenbenner B.; 2018. Brochure: The scare bar, GTNA Machinery work, Agrifaune Program.
- ↑ Broyer J.; 1996. Centrifugal haymaking, a method to reduce mortality of young corncrakes Crex Crex and quails of wheat Coturnix Coturnix, Ecology Review (Terre Vie), no. 51, pp. 269-276.
Annexes
- Redirect Modèle:Pages liées
