Recently, mainstream media reported that certain bee species have been placed on the endangered species list, but the situation isn’t as dire as one might think.
If you are a grower looking for information on producing plants that are safe for pollinators, or which plant types can be marketed as good food sources for bees, the new publication “Protecting and Enhancing Pollinators in Urban Landscapes” provides a good resource.
While the Environmental Protection Agency conducts preliminary risk assessments of neonicotinoid pesticides and retailers phase them out, the industry focuses on promoting pollinator gardens.
Following last year’s launch of the National Pollinator Garden Network, groups like the National Garden Bureau and others remind growers that offering pollinator-friendly plants is a great way to keep up with consumer demand.
The new system from Bee Vectoring Technology incorporated a powdered crop protection material into the lid of commercial bumblebee hives. Bees pick up the product when they leave the hive and deposit it on every plant they visit.
Through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, $4 million is being invested in 2016 to help producers and conservation partners in the Midwest and southern Great Plains plant milkweed and nectar-rich plants along field borders, in buffers along waterways or around wetlands, and other suitable locations.
Michigan State University Extension shares pest management practices to produce plants that are safe for pollinators and marketing strategies for clearing up confusion about bee-friendly plants.
