Well my fiancé and I bought a fantastic place last spring. We have over 20 acres on the river for our 2 sons to roam and get in trouble on. Currently I am looking into the eqiup program with the NRCS to convert a lot of the land from idle sheep pasture (15 of years minimum) to more wildlife friendly habitats. The land is in town and I would like to be one of the last bigger pieces of land that is wildlife friendly in town. The NRCS lady was over today to discuss plans since we got bumped to high priority in the program. My fiancé and I are looking at planting about 2.5 acres of fruit trees in 2022 and bordering the place in 2023 with pine trees. with either planting a 2.5 acre pollinator plot in 2022 or 2023, the plan isn’t finalized yet so we can adjust which year the pollinator plot happens. They will provide assistance if we plant a mix that contains 15 pollinator varieties. What I am wondering is what are do’s and dont’s for pollinator plots? Also has anyone found good seed at a good price per acre?

I would check in with the Xerces society on pollinator seed sources. I don't know if you have commercial aspirations with the orchard, but I do know that the Xerces society offers a 'Bee Friendly' certification that can help for marketing your crops.

I have some experience in orcharding so if you ever have any questions feel free to get in touch.

I don't know what pollinator plots they suggest in your area but here in Eastern WI pollinator seeds are lower cost then most wildflower and prairie mixes but still are not low cost per acre. I am sure the NCRS staff with their 15 varieties are wanting your plot to span as much of the season as it can. I note that you are looking at around 5 acres of orchard and pollinator plots. You indicated a pine wind and or social break. If you were looking for more pollinator acres, something like a clover and other flowering perennial forage mixes can contribute a lot nectar with limited annual work and lower costs then pollinator seeds. With an orchard having the pollinator plot nearby makes very good sense. I know people that seed the orchard down to short growing grasses and say trefoil etc. and fence it in for sheep etc. but that is a long way down the road if there is any interest in livestock.

Bryce

Might look into permaculture design for food forests.

If you are trying to help pollinators other than non native honeybees their is much more to be needed than large crops of blooms. Hollow seemed orbs are as important to native bees as flowering for places to reproduce. There is a reason that nature produces as much diversity as it can in each habitat.

Good luck! Getting those pollinator plots to establish and pass their inspection is a nightmare. The seed is expensive and if you have any European pasture grasses established now that's probably what you'll have dominating your plot in 3 years.
The pollinator plot is likely what ranked you high enough to get funded, so you have to try it.

Pollinator planting should not be considered native prairie rehab(though this it is pol improvement) so you should define with assistance giver what they will fund. Any amount of even domestic garden flowers can be an aid to pols but not what many orgs are after. Reestablishing prairie where cool season grasses and forbs are established is very difficult short of prescribed burning which is also difficult to do properly/safely. Grasses can be controlled with specific herbicides but they also kill native grasses(a large component of prairie). They are also costly.

I started planning for pollinators last year. I have bees. its important to have production through the whole season. Early season and late season are the most important for bee survival I think. Early gets them food when there is very little left in the hive and late because there is not much blooming and it will keep them from eating there winter store.

I planted 3 peach trees and 4 pair. 3 plantings of buckwheat and several other wild flower mixes my wife had along with several varieties of sun flowers, lavender, herbs, blueberries, ect. I have a nice quantity of white clover on my mowed 20' paths around the farm.

I also DON'T know or bushhog about 40 acres except for once early spring. The native 2 varieties of milkweed, goldenrod and many other plants get full production that way. I get a lot of butterflies. It also gives my rabbits quail and other wildlife cover.

I never mow the whole place at once I do it in stages so there is always cover for wildlife. I also don't bushhog when deer are dropping fawns until they get big enough they will move out of the way instead of getting chopped up.

FIRST I would talk with who is funding you and see what they want and are willing to fund for. Db into waste your time making a plan that dose not meet requirements.

Planting approved pollinator is expensive even with cost share. Start killing out non native grasses so you will be successful. Spray this spring, if it greens back up spray this summer, and no matter what spray this fall. Then you might be ready to seed next spring. Fescue is very hard to get rid of and is most likely there if it was a pasture.

Yep just like farmnhunt..... I am not a big chemical fan but when needed use them. Yes spray this April whenever it is greened up, in the summer, and fall. By winter you want it to look dead as a door nail where it looks obvious that no sign of life has been there for a while. It may seem like overkill but if you could wait until 2023 you could disc it up early spring 2022 and spray again in the summer. I realize cool season grass comes back so I just sprayed once and deal with it/burn. It just depends how long you want it to be free of grass.

Shooting Star
Shooting Star Native Seeds

20740 County Road 33

Spring Grove, MN 559744



507.498.3944 phone

507.498.3953 fax
They will mix you a custom blend with all the germ. rates and stuff to satisfy the NRCS cost share.

I think the seed cost me about 300.00 an acre.

Glad to hear you have a nice property, great place for kids to grow up. You mention getting aid from a conservation group. Personally I think that is a bad idea. You might as well be a permanent , lien on your property. . There is lots of information available from ag extension , that should be free or cost very little. If there is a farmer in the area , that would be willing to , break the land up , and plant it in hay crops , harvest and treat it like his own you are further ahead. . I have 50 acres on the edge of town bought in 1975. There is a farmer that has cropped it since about 1985. I stipulate that he keep it clean, and I want to be able to go anywhere on it , within reason , when the crops are off. We get a rental that covers property taxes. It is also classed as farmland , so we get a big break, on the property taxes. Down the road if and when you might want to sell all or parts of it. You won't have an agreement overhanging it. You can still have a few acres to plant your orchard and play with.. Good luck, JMHO old243

the NRCS pollinator is a 3 year contract.