During the week of October 20, AmericanHort participated in the USDA Honeybee Forage Summit and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC), both held in the Washington, D.C. area.
Many stakeholders were present, including representatives from federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, beekeepers and other agricultural interests.
AmericanHort took advantage of the opportunity of having a diverse group of interests in the same room, and coordinated a research project proposal that brings together AmericanHort, American Beekeeper Federation, American Honey Producers Association, American Seed Trade Association and Pollinator Partnership. The proposal was submitted on the final day of the NAPPC meeting to the USDA for potential funding under the Farm Bill Section 10007, which is administered by USDA-APHIS.
If funded, the project will identify which plants already available in the trade are the most valuable forage sources for bees at different times of the year. The results will help identify plants for which growers might decide to be especially cautious with systemic and long-residual insecticides, and help inform the public about which landscape plants they can purchase from their local garden centers for helping pollinators in their area.
The project brings these organizations together for the first time to tackle their shared concerns and move forward in a collaborative fashion.
There is a serious need to encourage additional gardens at home and in the community to ‘help some of nature’s hardest workers.’
The problem comes from urban sprawl as well the use of Agriculture Chemicals.
There is evidence that the use of fungicides affect the bee’s ability to ward off disease.
Here’s an opportunity to be a positive force against this problem as well as offset some negative publicity the industry has endured over the use of these chemicals as well as other garden practices.
Please find information on our new ‘Conservation Gardens.’ – http://www.triumphplant.com
The mats are made of two pieces of tissue paper lightly glued together ‘sandwiching’ the seed mix.
The 2’ x 4’ mats are easy to grow and relatively inexpensive.
The mats are just $2.50 each. They are offered for as much as $10
each or even more on line and in stores.
If you agree with me that we can create a successful garden promotion, please just contact me at: [email protected] or by phone – 845 634 5060.
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