Since its inception in 2009 the Campaign for the Farmed Environment has helped farmers find ways to increase the number of pollinators on their land. But why is it important? CFE project officer Bethan Williams explains.
She writes:
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For the uninitiated, pollinators are insects such as bees, hoverflies, wasps, moths, beetles and butterflies. All of them deliver for farmers through cross pollination - a process that is vital for strong yields.
Pollinators help farmers by delivering key ecosystem services, but they also help the wider environment. If we increase the number of invertebrates we are increasing the amount of food for other wildlife.
So, that’s the basics out of the way.
What has the CFE and the NFU been doing to help farmers protect pollinators? Firstly, it’s important to remember that any farm measure must fit into the wider plan for a profitable farm business. Food production and maintaining the environment go hand in hand. Many of our voluntary measures, such as planting pollen and nectar mix and keeping uncultivated field corners, are designed to provide homes and food for pollinators.
In the lead up to Pollinator Awareness Week, the CFE launched a discounted field margin mix with BASF and Limagrain UK which provides a habitat and food sources for pollinators to flourish.
So in Pollinator Awareness Week, look out for your pollinators, visit our website and ask yourself if there is something you can you to help them on your farm?
Our latest piece of literature, the ‘Crop protection for arable and livestock farms’ makes sure that when using vital crop protection products on farm we take steps to limit the impact on the wider environment.
The CFE is also running a ‘picture a pollinator’ competition to find the best pollinator mix in the country. If you enter you have a chance of winning one hectare of pollen and hectare mix from Kings Seed worth £50 a hectare.
Getting involved with helping pollinators isn’t hard as you may imagine… and the CFE can help you.
So in Pollinator Awareness Week, look out for your pollinators, visit our website and ask yourself if there is something you can you to help them on your farm?