New Jersey Audubon Society

Bernardsville, NJ, USA

An Overview Of Our Solution

Spelt as Surrogate for Grassland Dependent Wildlife Species Habitat – this project addresses an age old dilemma of trying to find an economically viable crop that would not sacrifice food production land for wildlife/biodiversity benefits. NJ Audubon & Laine Farms performed a study through USDA to demonstrate the use of a specialty commodity grain crop, spelt (Triticum aestivum subsp. Spelta), as a possible alternative vegetation type on land to aid and maximize habitat value for grassland dependent bird species, increase biodiversity on the landscape while also providing a producer with an economically viable commodity crop. The results indicated that target grassland dependent bird species utilized the spelt fields each year of the study, biodiversity increased and from an agricultural standpoint spelt was a more economical crop then that of WSG hay production.

Who is this solution impacting?

Community Type

Suburban

Rural

Organization type

非盈利

Ecosystem (select all that apply)

Grasslands

Population impacted

8.96 million people in entire state of NJ

Size of agricultural area

212,000 acres in entire state of NJ used for grains (according to latest available state ag census 2015.

Production quantity

14,880,000 BU for grains in entire state of NJ (according to latest available state ag census 2015)

People employed

9,071 people employed in farming for entire state of NJ (according to available latest state ag census 2015)

Describe your solution

Working through a USDA grant, NJA/Laine Farms were able to experiment with Spelt as a means to provide duel benefits for food production and biodiversity concerns. Spelt, a sub-species of common wheat, has been grown in Europe for about 300 years and was introduced to the United States in the 1890s. However, with the development of the combine, spelt, requiring an extra step to remove the hulls, was replaced by uncovered wheat in many areas by the 1920s. In recent years, spelt has reemerged as a viable product and a major cash crop, especially for organic and artisanal small grain growers in the health food market, both in the USA and in Europe. It is reported to be much easier to digest than wheat and its nutrients are more “bioavailable,” that is, more readily accessed during digestion. Additionally, spelt, a non GMO crop, is similar in physical structure and growing-season to the typical native WSG that is used for hay and thus can conceivably accommodate the needs of breeding upland grassland dependent birds and other wildlife. Like WSG, spelt is typically harvested AFTER July 15 in the northeast region of the United States. Harvesting after this date will not impact the breeding bird months, unlike the harvesting of cool-season grass hay crops or other grain crops such as rye, oats, barley or wheat. By incorporating spelt into a farmer’s rotation, the crop provides an alternative for economic diversity as well as critical habitat for wildlife to increase biodiversity.

Describe your implementation

Over the course of the last 4 years, Laine Farms and NJ Audubon had performed a pilot study of spelt for use as surrogate vegetation for grassland dependent birds habitat. Specifically, 15-acre trial field plots of spelt were planted at different seeding rates in an attempt to create conditions similar to that of a grassland (grasses intermixed with bare patches of soil and forb growth). Seeding rates were also evaluated from a producer perspective specifically assessing crop yield and if by adjusting seeding rates would the harvest be an economically viable alternative crop for a producer to consider in their rotation. Relative density vegetation surveys were performed on the fields, as well as point count bird surveys each breeding season. Based on our results over study, it appears that lowering seeding rates for spelt did provide variation in vegetation density of the stands and thereby provided patches of bare ground and allowed for more forb growth between the crop rows which help provide suitable habitat structure and increase biodiversity. Bird survey results indicated that spelt fields were utilized by target species all years of the study. From a wildlife conservation perspective, the study indicated that the spelt fields can serve a dual use to provide both a sustainable economical alternative agricultural crop, as well as, surrogate critical grassland habitat for grassland dependent bird species. Results of the project were presented at farmer workshops hosted by the USDA-NRCS and NJ Audubon.

External connections

One of NJA’s organizational objectives is the “preservation of New Jersey's valuable natural habitats.” This is very challenging to accomplish in the face of pressures in the State on ag lands for land development for housing and services for an increasingly sprawling population. Additionally, some of the last remaining “open space” is working agricultural lands which provide not just provide food production, but ecosystem services as well. NJ Audubon took a leadership role to engage an ag community that traditionally were not receptive to conservation organizations and explained our goal to work with them to find solutions to increasing biodiversity while keeping farming economically viable. From this relationship an alternative crop that would not sacrifice food production land for wildlife/biodiversity benefits was found. The farming community, including local producers, the State Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS, USDA-FSA, USFWS, and NJDFW embraced our work and have help to support it. But it was the farmers that were the key to moving the project forward and now work hand in hand on other conservation initiatives with NJA and state agencies.

What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?

The project addresses an age old dilemma of trying to find an economically viable crop that would not sacrifice food production land for wildlife/biodiversity benefits.

Describe the context in which you are operating

With the loss of large fields of agricultural grasslands to corn and soybean and the lack of interest to install new ones, wildlife dependent upon this habitat inevitably are impacted. Grasslands in the eastern United States rank as one of the country's 21 most endangered ecosystems. NJ’s remaining grasslands are almost entirely embedded within agricultural landscapes. Because of landscape changes, many endangered birds are increasingly dependent on the agricultural community for habitat creation, maintenance, and health. However, given NJ’s relatively small available land base and associated farm size (79 ac avg farm size in NJ) compared to that of other states to potentially create native grasslands, alternative vegetation types that could serve as viable substitutes for grassland habitat on farms that have economic value to NJ producers is important. This also is important to a farmer that is considering removing existing native grass fields in favor of more traditional grain crops.

How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?

Grasslands in the eastern United States rank as one of the country’s 21 most endangered ecosystems. They are also one of the only habitats in New Jersey that face an almost immediate threat of disappearing from the state. As expected, wildlife dependent upon grassland ecosystems has declined dramatically. In New Jersey, this is readily evident from severe population declines experienced by grassland birds who make up 41 percent of the state’s endangered bird species, 29 percent of its threatened birds, and 16 percent of its birds listed as special concern. Through the use of point count surveys during the spelt field studies, results have shown use by several State T&E bird species, including but not limited to, Bobolink, Savanah Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow and Eastern Meadowlark. A total of 10 bird species specific to early successional habitat were identified using the fields. Additionally, beneficial insects such as bees, butterflies and other pollinators were also observed in the spelt fields because, unlike corn, wheat and soybean fields, other forbs were allowed to grow between the spelt crop rows. Not only does the use of spelt in a farm’s rotation site provide critical breeding habitat and foraging areas for rare grassland birds, the use of the crop also provides suitable habitat for other species, thus increasing biodiversity.

Water

Incorporating spelt into one's rotation has benefits to the farming operations overall with improvement to soil and water quality because spelt typically uses less fertilizer (ex: Spelt requires about 25-50% less nitrogen than wheat) and chemicals for weed control than conventional crops and it can be utilized as an alternative cover crop. Spelt grows successfully in poorer soils (poorly-drained, low-fertility) than wheat, and can tolerate dryer conditions and typically requires no irrigation.

Food Security/Nutrition

Consumers have discovered the health benefits of ancient varieties (such as spelt) and the rising popularity of gluten-free products has increased usage of non-gluten containing specialty grains, such as spelt. In a 2004 report published by the Australian Department of Industry & Investment, “In animal feed the hull fiber of spelt is particularly beneficial for ruminants, such as cattle, as it increases the digestibility of the feed and reduces acidosis problems.

Economic/Sustainable Development

Production cost/income of spelt when compared to the production cost/income of WSG was found to be a much better option for a producer as far as diversifying their crops, because of spelts use in the current consumer market. Spelt has a current market established as both an animal feed and grain for human consumption. Unlike WSG spelt is planted with conventional farm equipment so costs pertaining to obtaining specialized planting or harvesting equipment (like that for WSG) are not applicable

Climate

500 characters max.

Sustainability

Although the initial project was started with a USDA-Conservation Innovation Grant, the project does not need to rely on additional grant funding or government subsidies. It would rely on market based revenue. Spelt has reemerged as a viable product and major cash crop, especially for organic and artisanal small grain growers in the health food market, both in the USA and Europe. It is reported to be much easier to digest than wheat and its nutrients are more “bioavailable,” that is, more readily accessed during digestion. Spelt is much lower in gluten and has very high water solubility then other grains, such as wheat. Therefore, individuals with wheat intolerance and gluten intolerance can eat spelt products with no ill effects.

Return on investment

Results indicated the total cost per acre of spelt production was $202.69/acre. For comparison, total cost per acre of WSG was $421.56/acre. However, net profit on cost/acre rate for spelt was $927.23, opposed to $116.44 for WSG. Although there is a difference in production cost per acre between the two, spelt production appears to have a far better return on investment per acre because of availability of harvest and a secondary economic use and market is realized for the crop within the same harvest year. As opposed to WSG where establishment can take 2 years or longer before a harvest can occur. Ecological returns on investment far out way the initial investment because critical wildlife habitat establishment is realized immediately.

Entrant Image

male indigo bunting in spelt project field (Parke)

How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?

The project itself is easily transferable to other producers in NJ, as well as, producers in other states. This is particularly apparent when you realize that all planting, spraying, and harvesting of spelt can be done with conventional farm equipment and existing markets for the product are either available now or on the rise. However, as easily transferable it is in concept and equipment to plant, establish and harvest spelt, where the placement of the field on the landscape adjacent to other crops or forested areas should be considered if the objective is to attract grassland dependent bird species. Currently, funding needs for the program include secondary research in the spelt fields for nest survey counts and detailed territory species mapping.

Overview