Agreement Number
NR20-08G005
Awardee Name
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Grant Type
Classic
Project Title
Bee-friendly beef: Integrating native wildflowers into Southeastern grazing systems
Awardee State/Territory
Virginia
Involved States/territories
Virginia
Award Year
2019
Start Date
End Date
Award Amount
$882,922.00
Production/Use
Grassland (includes pasture/rangeland)
Natural Areas
Resource Concern (Broad)
Habitat
Soil
Resource Concern (Specific)
Pollinator habitat
Soil Health
Conservation Practice(s)
Wildlife Habitat Planting
Project Background
Virginia Tech has partnered with the University of Tennessee and Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes to develop bee- friendly beef production technologies through a series of demonstration sites and on-farm trials. Specifically, the work addresses the following objectives: 1) document the establishment and persistence of wildflowers in grazing systems; 2) assess the benefits of wildflower-enhanced grazing systems for cattle; 3) assess the benefits of wildflower-enhanced grazing systems for pollinators; 4) calculate the economic profitability of wildflower-enhanced grazing systems; and 5) create educational materials and provide outreach about wildflower-enhanced grazing systems. The project team will measure wildflower establishment success and persistence, forage productivity and quality, cattle weight gain, pollinator attractiveness, and changes in costs and revenue compared to traditional grazing systems.
Project Scale
Regional
Project targeted to Historically Underserved producers?
No
Awardee Technical Contact Name
Megan O'Rourke