Claire Haag of Haag Farm Walnuts in Esparto, California views the wild edges of her orchard as an important asset. These edges provide a welcome home for birds, predatory insects and pollinators by creating a year-long buffet of food sources. As a result, they are avoiding chemical applications because the birds and beneficial insects are providing pest suppression.
Watch video about Birds' Pest Control Services in Walnuts.
Dr. Sacha Heath, from Living Earth Collaborative in St. Louis, MO, conducted research in the Sacramento Valley looking at the effects of planting hedgerows on the edges of different types of crops.
What she found was that when hedgerows were part of the larger landscape with other types of native vegetation, these hedgerows will increase the predation of pest insects by birds.
Learn more about Claire Haag of Haag Farm Walnuts
You can watch our other videos and learn more on WFA's Beneficial Birds Multimedia Story Platform.
If you are interested in installing a hedgerow and would like assistance, please contact us!
Download this useful resource Hedgerows and Farmscaping for California Agriculture written by Sam Earnshaw and Community Alliance With Family Farmers (CAFF).