Bee Friendly Farming
Transcript of Bee Friendly Farming
Bee Friendly Farming an initiative
Bee Friendly Farming
• Recognizing those producers who provide bee habitat
• Providing cost-share assistance to growers wanting to plant bee habitat
• Encouraging consumers to purchase farm products and local honey with the Bee Friendly Farming logo; and
• Raising awareness about beekeeping challenges
Our Honey Bees are Important
• 1/3 Bites of food we eat and drink are a direct result of bee pollination
• The majority of food you grow may need bee pollination
Our Honey Bees are in Trouble
Parasitic varroa mites that not only affect colony numbers, but vector over a dozen viruses that affect honey bee health.
Continued loss of habitat due to urban expansion and the even larger problem of monocultural practices of modern agriculture.
Challenging weather extremes that can affect honey bee health due to drought and floral degradation.
Increased use of pesticides affecting all beneficial insects.
(American Beekeeping Federation)
Problem
"Lack of bee forage is a limiting factor to not only honey bee health but the pollination industry."
Randy Oliver, Researcher, Author and
Commercial Beekeeper, Grass Valley, California
Solution
Certification
Provide nesting habitat for bees
6% of acreage vested in pollinator-beneficial plantings
Diversity of bee food plants available throughout all seasons
Considering pollinator health as a priority with all pesticide applications
Nesting Habitat
Undisturbed (untilled) ground
Dead trees (snags)
Native bee nesting boxes (such as Mason or leafcutter bees)
Apiaries (managed honey bees)
Certification
Certification
6% Vested Acreage Bee-attractive flowering perennials
Berries
Ground covers/cover crops (such as clovers, mustard, vetch)
Restored native meadows, pollinator friendly wildlife plantings
Bee-attractive flowering fallow crops
Flowering hedgerows
Flowering trees that provide nectar/pollen
Insectary garden (flowering plants grown to attract beneficial insects)
"Weedy" areas not managed (allowed to flower)
Certification
Seasonal Diversity
At least two bee plants flowering during bee season
Certification
Considerations for Bee Health I don't use any pesticides (insecticides, herbicides and
fungicides).
I am an organic grower.
I use Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including--When needed, I only spray at dusk or after dark when bees less active.
I use Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including--I never spray insecticides or fungicides on flowering plants, and I do not use pesticides with extended toxicity on plants that may come into bloom during the period of toxicity.
A Snapshot
Result
Value added to your product with the logo
Increased harvest yield
Increase of pollinators
Knowing that you are part of the solution
Be a Bee Friendly Farmer
pfspbees.org
www.beegirl.org
www.xerces.org
www.pollinator.org
$35 Initial Cost
$25 Annual Renewal Fee