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