Farming with Pollinators

Pollinator insects are a key component of productive farms and healthy ecosystems. They include bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles and even flies. Worldwide, there are an estimated 20,000 species of bees, with approximately 4,000 species native to the United States.

Managed honey bee hives usually receive all of the credit for crop pollination, yet the number of managed hives continues to decline due to diseases, pests, habitat destruction, pesticide use and invasive species (Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD). However research shows that native bee populations are a significant contributor to crop pollination. Native New England bees are adapted to our climate and pollinate during cool rainy days when honey bees are not willing to leave the hive. These traits of native bees are especially helpful with spring pollinated crops such as apples and blueberries.

In the U.S., the economic value of the pollination service provided by native insects is estimated at $3 billion per year. They are necessary for the reproduction of nearly 75 percent of the world’s flowering plants. This includes two-thirds of the world’s crop species.

CROP POLLINATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Insect pollination is critical for the production of many important crops in New Hampshire such as:

• Blueberries
• Apples
• Tomatoes
• Blackberries
• Melons
• Sunflowers
• Pumpkins
• Pears
• Squash

In New Hampshire, there are nearly 100 orchards, and 6,000 acres of fruit and vegetable cropland producing an annual output valued at $18 million. Similarly, Vermont has nearly 4,000 acres of commercial apple production and an annual crop valued at $10-12 million. Connecticut is the 10th largest producer of pears in the U.S. as measured both in terms of acreage and annual yield.

POLLINATOR CONSERVATION

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance for landowners who wish to promote native pollinators on their land.

The NRCS provides the following approach to pollinator conservation:

• Perform a resource assessment on the property to identify existing pollinator habit.
• Provide landowners information on protecting and enhancing existing pollinator habitat.
• Protocols for managing vegetation on adjacent landscapes.
• Provide landowners estimates on the amount of pollination which can occur from native pollinators and how that may reduce the amount of managed bee hives.

For more information on pollinators, check out the following links:

Xerces Society
2008 Farm Bill
NRCS documents for pollinator conservation and enhancement
Pollinator Partnership
Ohio Nectar and Pollen Producing Plants
Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators Enhancing Their Habitat

These documents require Adobe Acrobat reader.

New England NRCS Pollinator Tech Notes
NH NRCS Farming with Pollinators Fact Sheet
Farming for Bees- Guidelines for Providing Native Bee Habitat on Farms

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