Have You Seen The New Crop In Our Countryside

Farmland birds are good indicators of the health of the countryside. To help these birds, which are in decline, participants in agri-environment schemes have the option to grow wild bird cover.

This crop is grown specifically to provide seed food for farmland birds over winter. Over 1,600 hectares in Northern Ireland are currently sown in wild bird cover. Participants in agri-environment schemes have a choice to grow either cereal based one year crops or two year mixes which include kale. These crops often appear unusual, particularly at this time of year with the blue flower of the linseed in amongst oats, or the bright yellow kale.

William Barfoot from Desertmartin has established a very successful crop of mustard, kale, forage rape and linseed. William commented that the seed was drilled at extra wide spacing to ensure that the crop is open for birds to access between the drills. With the decline in spring cereal production in NI the amount of stubble ground which acts as a feed source in the winter months for birds has dwindled.

As a result, the importance of wild bird cover has increased. Wild bird cover provides a significant amount of seed with one hectare of wild bird cover producing enough to feed seed-eating birds in an area of 100ha. Growers are rewarded by a payment per hectare through agri-environment schemes.

Further information can be obtained through your local DARD Countryside Management Adviser

Wild bird cover on four farms