MISSISSAUGA – Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is continuing its Bird-Friendly Certified Hay (BFCH) program for the sixth consecutive year, after a record year in 2018. The program connects hay-growers, hay-buyers and rural landowners with available land to create safe habitats for threatened grassland bird populations.
In 2018, there were 41 participants involved in the BFCH program. Fifteen farmers working 19 different farm properties together harvested 388 acres of bird-friendly certified hay.
This benefits grassland-nesting birds by harvesting at a time and in a way that ensures newly hatched birds are not impacted.
In addition to over 300 total sightings of grassland-nesting birds, 22 pairs of nesting Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark were observed on participating properties.
“During my search for a tenant farmer for my land, I came across the Bird-Friendly Certified Hay Program,” said Deborah Berg, a horse farmer and four-year participant of the BFCH program.
“Enrolling in the program helped me connect with a local farmer who shares my appreciation for wildlife and takes care of my land.”
The BFCH program provides a matchmaking service for rural landowners trying to find tenant farmers to manage their land.
It is also an online marketplace for people buying and selling bird-friendly certified hay.
The hay is certified as bird-friendly by cutting it later in the season, at a time when the grassland birds that nest in hay fields are not impacted by harvesting.
Are you a hay grower, hay purchaser or landowner with land available for growing Bird-Friendly Certified Hay?
Registration for the 2019 program is now open. Participating properties may be eligible for property tax reductions.
For more information, visit www.birdfriendlyhay.ca or contact Jordan Graham, Program Coordinator of Agricultural Outreach, at 1-800-668-5557 ext. 243 or jordan.graham@cvc.ca.
