Increasing Upland Bird Habitat Through Agroecosystems; Assessing the Economic and Ecological Potential of a Hazel Shrubland Agroecosystem in Northeastern Wisconsin
Patrick J. Weber
Agroecosystems can mimic the ecological function of sustainable and diverse ecosystems while providing goods and services to the landowner. This project explores the economic and ecological potential of implementing a hybrid hazel shrubland agroecosystem in northeastern Wisconsin, specifically in the counties of Oconto, Marinette, Florence, and Forest. Wild hazels are common to this region. The Badgersett hybrid hazel is a cross between two wild hazel species and the European hazel. The Badgersett hybrid hazel is a perennial woody agricultural crop that is planted once (estimated life of fifty years), provides year-round cover, and produces hazelnuts, a crop with an established global market. If managed appropriately, a hybrid hazel shrubland agroecosystem has the potential to mimic existing shrubland ecosystem functions found in northeastern Wisconsin by increasing wildlife habitat for upland birds and other wildlife while protecting topsoil, capturing and filtering snow and rain, and sequestering atmospheric carbon. Furthermore, hazelnuts can provide an economic return to the landowner. The implementation of habitat strips, approximately seventy foot wide rows of diverse plant species within the hybrid hazel planting could significantly improve the habitat quality and provide "divert" food species, helping to minimize the predation of wildlife on the hazelnuts.
An economic analysis over a twenty-year project life suggests that at current cost, price, yield, and installation and maintenance assumptions, growing hybrid hazels can be cost prohibitive to the landowner. However, the sensitivity analyses conducted in this project do suggest that the inclusion of existing conservation program (Farm Bill provisions) funding via cost-share and annual payments minimize the annual loss in the beginning years where a crop is not realized. Moreover, the sensitivity analyses show that adjustments in both hazelnut yield and the purchase price of hazel plants have significant impacts on the overall financial viability and could make the overall project attractive to private landowners. Expanded hybrid hazelnut plantings as a result of favorable market conditions could lead to a significant increase in wildlife habitat and ecological function without added financial burden to the taxpayers through subsidies.
Future research should focus on the financial impact of installing the habitat strips within a hybrid hazel planting. Such habitat strips will diversify the habitat in the hybrid hazel shrubland agroecosystem, potentially minimizing predation on the hazel nut crop, while providing other marketable crops and increasing the population and diversity of wildlife within the system.