Benefits of Bee Habitat Go Beyond Pollination
Monday Jan 25th, 2021
News Reporter With California Ag Today, I’m Tim Hammerich.
Building bee habitat is a great way to bring in pollinators, but its benefits go way beyond pollination, says Xerces Society senior pollinator conservation specialist Jessa Kay Cruz.
Cruz… “So in addition to obviously the marketing benefits, a lot of the habitat and the plants that support pollinators also support other beneficial insects. So like natural enemies of crop pests, lady beetles, lacewings, parasitic wasps. You know, if you re a total bug geek, you could just go down the rabbit hole here. But it s just seeing, you know, all of those insects are attracted to the same type of habitat, floral resources, all of that. And so farmers really will benefit by the ecosystem services that both pollinators provide, but also all of these other beneficial insects.”
Bee Better Certified Vineyards
News Reporter With California Ag Today, I’m Tim Hammerich.
Some California winegrape growers looking to improve the environment and differentiate their products are looking to a lesser known certification: Bee Better Certified. Offered by the Xerces Society, the certification program is open to all crops, says senior pollinator conservation specialist Jessa Kay Cruz.
Cruz… “I think not surprisingly like each cropping system has some challenges and limitations in order to become Bee Better Certified. So this particular project is funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).”
The project Cruz is referring to there involves certifying vineyards. The hope is this will lead to more bee habitat, and Bee Better Certified wine.
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Monday, December 21, 2020 - The Bee Better Certification program is a collaborative effort involving the USDA, farmers and the food industry to create a more pollinator-friendly environment. Joining us to discuss the program is Erik Mader, with the Xerces Society, which developed and manages the program. ~~~ Mark Trahant comments on the Interior Department and the nomination of Deb Haaland as secretary of the department. ~~~ A touching Postcard from the Prairie for Christmas from Eliza Blue. ~~~ The death of Carl Young’s mother inspired him to start a Covid memorial project. With the plan originally focused on North Dakota, the vision is now expanding to the rest of the nation.