Pest Control and Pollination Cost–Benefit Analysis of Hedgerow Restoration in a Simplified Agricultural Landscape

Abstract

Field edge habitat in homogeneous agricultural landscapes can serve multiple purposes including enhanced biodiversity, water quality protection, and habitat for beneficial insects, such as native bees and natural enemies. Despite this ecosystem service value, adoption of field border plantings, such as hedgerows, on large-scale mono-cropped farms is minimal. With profits primarily driving agricultural production, a major challenge affecting hedgerow plantings is linked to establishment costs and the lack of clear economic benefits on the restoration investment. Our study documented that hedgerows are economically viable to growers by enhancing beneficial insects and natural pest control and pollination on farms. With pest control alone, our model shows that it would take 16 yr to break even from insecticide savings on the US$4,000 cost of a typical 300-m hedgerow field edge planting. By adding in pollination benefits by native bees, where honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) may be limiting, the return time is reduced to 7 yr. USDA cost share programs allow for a quicker return on a hedgerow investment. Our study shows that over time, small-scale restoration can be profitable, helping to overcome the barrier of cost associated with field edge habitat restoration on farms.

Pollination Reservoirs in Lowbush Blueberry (Ericales: Ericaceae)

“…In one case, pollination services were measured 10 years post-establishment, but data from the interim was not presented (Morandin et al 2016). Time to pay off PR cost can take three or four years for cultivated highbush blueberry with and without a subsidy, respectively (Blaauw and Isaacs 2014).…”

Intersection between biodiversity conservation, agroecology, and ecosystem services

“…Nevertheless, with a cost-benefit analysis, Morandin, Long, and Kremen (2016) demonstrated that increased pollination (and pest control) services render hedgerows economically viable for growers. A number of studies in different crops, such as coffee (Klein, Steffan-Dewenter, and Tscharntke 2003), pumpkins (Hoehn et al 2008), and apples (Blitzer et al 2016), have documented a positive relationship between pollinator diversity and crop yield.…”

Hedgerow benefits align with food production and sustainability goals

“…Tomato crops with hedgerows required less input of insecticides than those without them. Considering only the reduction in insecticide treatments, and a cost of $4,000 for hedgerow installation and establishment (Long and Anderson 2010), profit was realized after 16 years (Morandin et al 2016; fig. 1).…”

“…Hedgerows also exported native bees into adjacent tomato crops, where sentinel canola (potted plants used to assess pollination effects) had greater bee abundance than sentinel canola plants adjacent to conventionally managed field edges. Hedgerow profit from pollination enhancement in canola and enhanced biocontrol of insect pests was realized after 7 years (Morandin et al 2016; fig. 1).…”

“…Research projects have examined pest control, pollination, wildlife, and food safety in row crops and orchards, with and without hedgerows. The results showed field edge habitat provides significant benefits from beneficial insects and poses low risks to crop production from insect pests and rodents (Morandin et al 2016;Sellers et al 2016). However, this information alone has not proved sufficient for increasing hedgerow adoption.…”