The Importance of Pollinators
Pollinators are vitally important to agriculture, as well as our food system and ecosystems. They help thousands of flowering plants reproduce, from flowers to fruits and even some crops. Pollinator habitat can also provide benefits on the farm, such as preventing soil erosion and improving biodiversity.
Productive Land, Productive Pollinators: Part 1
Learn how pollinator habitats change over time and how they provide value to your land in this video featuring Conservation Blueprint’s Pete Berthelsen.
Productive Land, Productive Pollinators: Part 2
Shawn O’Conner, a Nebraska soybean grower, showed us the successful implementation of pollinator habitats on his land through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) — the USDA initiative to improve the soil, water and wildlife benefits on sensitive land in ag production.
It Takes all Kinds
Bees get most of the publicity, and for good reason — there are 20,000 species of wild bees and they’re responsible for some of the most well-known foods like honey and almonds. But butterflies, wasps, beetles and some small mammals are also pollinators and play important parts of the food ecosystem.
Helping Feed the World
Without pollinators, our meals would be a lot less colorful. One of every three bites of food relies on pollinators to some degree, including many of our favorite fruits, vegetables and nuts. Oh, and don’t forget coffee.
Partners in Success
Creating pollinator habitat can help on-farm production. Alfalfa seed growers construct silty nests for alkali bees near their operations as each female can produce 1/3 pound of seed in her lifetime through foraging activities.
A Global Impact
Pollinators have many roles, but one is underappreciated — they’re economic drivers. Their work is crucial to a huge segment of our agricultural and food production system.
Play Your Part
Ready to help pollinators? The good news is making a difference on your land can be simple and inexpensive, and it won’t affect your production. It can also benefit your operation. Some solutions can improve your local biodiversity, or even deliver agronomic benefits in your fields.