Farmers, Ranchers and Private Forest Landowners Use Conservation to
Protect Pollinator Habitat, Boost Crop Production
June 22 thru 28 National Pollinator Week
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[June 19, 2020]
The next time you
snack on almonds, add blueberries to your smoothie or eat pumpkin
pie, thank a pollinator and thank farmers, ranchers and private
forestland owners who work hard to create and maintain their
habitat.
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Pollinators, such as honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, birds,
bats, flies and many others, play a critical role in crop
production. Without pollinators, we wouldn’t have many crops.
During the week of June 22-28, the nation will celebrate these
iconic and crucial pollinators during National Pollinator Week.
This year’s theme is “Pollinators, Plants, People and Planet.”
Thirteen years ago, the U.S. Senate unanimously designated the
third week in June as National Pollinator Week to increase
awareness about the importance of pollinators and the challenges
many of them face, including serious population declines and
habitat losses, often due to land use changes and excessive or
improper pesticide use. Nearly 200 species of pollinators are
considered threatened or extinct.
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Pollination occurs when pollen grains are moved between two
flowers of the same species, or within a single flower by wind
or insects and animals. Successful pollination results in
healthy fruit and fertile seeds, allowing the plants to
reproduce.
The extensive and critical world of crop pollinators is a $20
billion a year industry. About 75 percent of crop plants are
pollinated by billions of animals and insects every year
Many federal, state and local government agencies,
non-government organizations and universities have launched
extensive efforts to protect pollinators, especially honeybees
and the Monarch butterfly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) works closely with farmers, forest landowners and other
private landowners to increase pollinator habitat in targeted
areas nationwide.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), through
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), offers
financial incentives to agricultural producers and private
forest landowners who enhance pollinator habitat by voluntarily
implementing conservation practices such as cover crops,
wildflower and native plantings in buffers and areas not in
production.
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Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) also can be used
to enhance habitat to protect pollinators. Administered by USDA’s
Farm Service Agency (FSA), CRP is a land conservation program in
which enrolled landowners remove environmentally sensitive land from
agricultural production and plant species that will improve
environmental health and quality.
As owners and stewards of the land, many farmers, ranchers and
private forest landowners manage their natural resources to work to
achieve their production goals, they are protecting the rich and
diverse ecology on or near their operations.
When we protect pollinators, we protect our ability to grow food. We
thank our farmers, ranchers and private forest landowners for who
offer a safe haven for pollinators and grow the products we enjoy.
Whether you are a large commodity producer, a small and diverse
organic producer or even a suburban homeowner, you can have an
important role in saving pollinators in Illinois.
Do your part to help protect pollinators. By taking action to
diversify and beautify your operation or property, you could ensure
that many fruits and vegetables are available and plentiful for
future generations for many years to come.
For more information about pollinators and what you can do in
Illinois, please contact your local USDA service center.
[USDA Farm Service Agency]
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