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Prepared by Christine Schmalz for the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement
Association
The cheerful melody and bright yellow and white markings of the Bobolink
are a friendly reminder of spring for many farmers. Returning annually
from their South American over-wintering site, this grassland songbird
has adapted to take full advantage of the meadows and pastures provided
by Ontario’s agricultural landscapes for nesting and feeding their
young.
Despite the seeming abundance of this species (with approximately
300,000 to 400,000 breeding pairs in the province), Bobolink populations
have declined dramatically in recent years, with estimates indicating a
50 percent reduction over the past ten years alone. As a result, the
songbird has now been designated a species at risk in Ontario,
triggering protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Act
prohibits killing or harming a designated species with protection
extending to the prevention of damaging or destroying given habitat.
This restriction could be alarming news for producers who rely on forage
and pasture lands to support their livelihood.
A temporary exemption came into effect on June 3, 2011 that allows
agricultural activities to continue during a three-year transition
period while more research is conducted into what is placing the bird in
peril. Additionally, this timeframe allows for the development of both
short and long-term approaches to Bobolink protection on the
agricultural landscape.
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) is working
with partners to develop a better understanding of grazing management
techniques that favour grassland birds. Initially, OSCIA has had to look
no further than the farm of the organization’s current president-elect.
Joan McKinlay, who lives with husband, James, on Silver Springs Farms,
situated in the picturesque hills of the Niagara Escarpment near the
Town of Blue Mountain in Grey County.
Although the McKinlays have expanded their operation over the years to
include cash crop production along with traditional cow-calf, hay
remains their primary commodity. Biodiversity has not been the primary
focus of the farm, but these producers have always felt that the
abundance of wildlife species is an excellent barometer of the overall
health of their property. As a result, they are very pleased to see a
wide variety of bird species annually, including Bobolink.
“Farmers are good conservationists and if you work with them; they will
happily work in partnership,” insists James McKinlay, commenting on the
interaction between wildlife and agriculture. “We have been pleased to
partner with several organizations over the years and feel we have
benefited from each others’ views.” The McKinlays have been actively
engaged in environmental conservation for many years, as recognized
through the distinction of being chosen for the Canadian Cattleman’s
Environmental Stewardship Award in 2001. However, the operation’s
commitment to excellence extends well beyond stewardship, as James
McKinlay has also been granted the Ontario Pasture Award in 2011, was
named Ontario Forage Master in 1993 and went on to win the American
Forage and Grasslands Forage Master’s award in 1994.
Through keen interest in innovation, the McKinlays have always tried to
embrace new techniques and practice continuous improvement. With
approximately 150 cows and their calves to support, focus on good
quality forage is a necessity. Long time proponents of the rotational
grazing system, Silver Springs used concerns over limited feed
availability during a particularly droughty year as the impetus for
further subdividing pastures, transitioning to this progressive pasture
management style.
“The system has to fit the people,” says James when reflecting on
various alternative management practices. The McKinlays currently use a
combined system of extensive and intensive rotational grazing in
connection with centrally accessed supplemental hay and water to provide
the optimal balance between livestock nutrition, land maximization, cost
effectiveness and stewardship.
Within a rotational system, production value is optimized by dividing
large fields into small parcels where cattle are systematically moved
from field to field, allowing time for proper plant re-growth. OMAFRA
Pasture Specialist Jack Kyle suggests that when implementing this system
effectively “there will be significantly more forage for your
livestock”. Controlling access to portions of the pasture ensures fields
are not overgrazed, allowing proper nutrient replenishment to the roots
and optimized plant re-growth. Additionally, productive pastures
significantly increase gain, providing positive economic returns for the
farm business.
The extensive rotational grazing system adopted by the McKinlays appears
to be a factor in creating ideal habitat for grassland species like the
Bobolink, as the grass in some individual pastures remains tall in
height and is grazed more evenly. Protective cover shields nests from
predators until young birds are strong enough to venture off on their
own in July. Here it seems that what’s good for the farm truly is good
for the birds too.
With keen attention toward pasture management and a delicate balance
between art and science, cattle are rotated through the system to manage
forage quality and meet the dietary requirements, being careful to
ensure that lands are never grazed too tightly and that there is
adequate rest for pastures. Through clever construction this team has
managed to develop a system to ideally suit their needs. Careful to
match herd and pasture size, the McKinlays generally expect cattle to
remain within a given field for 3 to 5 days, allowing ample rest for
each field to ensure plants are able to rebuild. James notes that
“rotational grazing works no matter what size your farm is, allowing for
dramatic increases in production”. Additionally, significant rest
periods between grazing activities allow wildlife to take full advantage
of pastures, bolstering the availability of grassland habitat. Overall,
rotational grazing offers a means of optimizing existing land to achieve
a delicate balance between natural habitat enhancement and strategic
production decisions for the farm.
The Mckinlays are emphatic. “The largest populations of bobolinks are
found in cow-calf grazing areas. These producers are obviously doing
something right to support bird populations. Let’s work together within
the existing systems to enhance their habitat while supporting the
agricultural producers that provide it.”
Rotational grazing is one of many best management practices supported by
the Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP) offered by the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Government of Canada and
delivered through OSCIA. Details are available at
www.ontariosoilcrop.org or by contacting your local OSCIA Program
Representative.
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