Training: harvesting and sowing of prairie seeds

Yesterday in Ladignac-le-Long, the Park co-organized a day for farmers. On the program: the benefits of flower meadows and seeding techniques using locally harvested seeds.

In the Périgord-Limousin region, meadows are an integral part of the landscape and are generally used for grazing or forage production. However, due to a lack of alternatives, the use of commercial and limited seed varieties is currently the predominant method for sowing these meadows. Yet, a different approach is possible and full of potential.

The many advantages of natural meadows

Flowering meadows are natural meadows, meaning they are unplowed and exhibit a high diversity and density of flowers . From producing quality forage and improving palatability to preserving biodiversity and promoting animal health , the benefits of natural meadows are numerous. These environments also contribute to the fight against climate change because they store a significant amount of carbon in the soil, which must be preserved.

Thanks to the diversity of their vegetation, wildflower meadows are also less sensitive to climate change. They therefore represent a real opportunity for adaptation to rising temperatures , since their forage production experiences little variation, even in difficult years (drought or wet conditions).

Using wild and local seeds: a winning bet!

For all these reasons, farmers and environmental conservationists share a common interest in restoring and sowing wildflower meadows. In this regard, the use of native wild species still yields the best results. Naturally adapted to the area and therefore more resistant and resilient, these species are also more compatible with the local flora and fauna.

So how do you proceed? Sowing wild plants of local origin requires different steps, starting with the selection of so-called "resource" meadow plots from which the seeds will be taken. This is followed by drying, sorting and preserving the seeds, before sowing them on a new "receiving" plot.

Training to acquire the tools and know-how

Therefore, to introduce farmers to this entire process , the Park co-hosted a workshop yesterday, in partnership with the National Botanical Conservatory of the Massif Central (CBNMC) and the Center for Initiatives to Promote Agriculture and Rural Areas (CIVAM). Topics covered included assessing the maturity of a plot for harvest, different harvesting techniques using mixtures of local grassland seeds, and the steps involved in pre-cleaning and drying seeds.

During the day, participants also learned how to design and use a pasture brusher , a relatively inexpensive and simple tool to make. The brusher allows for the harvesting of seeds from a plot without mowing and without significantly impacting forage yield (after haymaking). Historical experience suggests a ratio of 2 hectares of pasture to be brushed for every 1 hectare sown. Following the example of the " Pictagraine " brusher, an experimental model designed by the Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Nouvelle Aquitaine (New Aquitaine Regional Nature Reserve), other initiatives are emerging.

This day was part of the mandatory training courses for farmers receiving financial aid through the Agro-Environmental and Climate Measures (MAEC). All farmers and breeders in the area interested in the topic of prairie seeds and the empowerment of their production were also invited.