Farming for Native Bees: Phase II

As 30 percent of U.S. food crops depend on honey bee pollination, the implications of ongoing declines are of growing concern, particularly as Colony Collapse Disorder continues to claim over 30 percent of managed honey bee hives per year. Recent research has begun to explore the potential of native bees to supplement pollination services. However, more is needed to quantify the impacts of native bee farming in diverse agricultural systems and regions, identify methods to encourage the best native bees for specific crops and engage farmers in implementation. This project supports an innovative, farmer-initiated effort that aligns with a number of NRCS goals for establishing, monitoring, and evaluating pollinator Habitat, and educating and engaging agricultural producers in pollinator conservation.