New Hampshire Producers Get the Buzz on Native Pollinators

Each spring, New Hampshire fruit and vegetable growers rent hundreds of European honey bee hives from southern states to help improve pollination. In recent years these hives have been more difficult to rent due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) reducing supply and driving up cost. Because key fruits such as apples and blueberries bloom in mid May, when air temperatures are typically lower than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, most of the pollination in these conditions is performed by native bees. Native bees are far more efficient at pollinating at low temperatures and are at least 100 times more efficient than European honey bees in typical New Hampshire spring conditions.

Mader (right) explains the benefits of native bumble bees to Tim Brown of Taylor Brown Wild Blueberry Co. in Alton, NH.

To get a better understanding of native pollinator habitat and abundance, NRCS sponsored pollinator expert Eric Mader of the Xerces Society to visit various scale fruit and vegetable operations in a variety of landscape settings. All of the producers were very enthusiastic about increasing the abundance of native pollinators on their property. The typical limiting feature on the landscapes was a lack of herbaceous plants which provide high quality pollen in early spring and late fall. Spring plants are key to help emerging queen bees produce successful colonies and late fall blooms are important to increase bee health just before hibernation. Mader’s top plants for pollinators include pussy willows in spring, and goldenrod and asters in late fall. Some of the best plants have long blooming seasons and high protein content in the pollen.

Currently, NRCS and the UNH Cooperative Extension are working together to develop several bee pasture demonstration sites. These sites are typically on field edges and other unused spaces, and are seeded with a mix of plants specifically designed to improve pollinator abundance by providing high protein content in the pollen. Next year, NRCS will offer growers financial assistance to install these plantings. The goal of these plantings is to reduce dependence on rented honey bee hives and increase pollination during wet and cold years.

To learn more about pollinator conservation, visit The Xerces Society

To find out more about pollinating on your farm and how NRCS can help, contact Don Keirstead at (603) 868-7581.

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