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Going wild could improve winged workforce

By Guest PostJune 25, 2013Environment, Naturealmonds, apples, bee, blueberries, bumble bee, bumble bee gyrations, canada, cherries, crops, flower bee interactions, flowers, going wild, jason gibbs, michigan state university, michigan team, North America, pollination, raspberries, rufus isaacs, spring, strawberries, united states, wild populations, winged workforce

Every spring in the United States, bees pollinate crops valued at about $14 billion.

A Michigan State University professor and a team of scientists are using a five-year, $8.6 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to keep this winged workforce operating efficiently.

Almonds, strawberries, apples, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, watermelon, cucumbers and more depend on bees to help maximize yields. But with wild honey bee populations decimated by varroa mites and other threats, farmers are dependent on beekeepers to deliver managed colonies of honey bees during peak pollination to ensure their flowers are pollinated. (more…)

Increasing Predator-Friendly Land Can Help Farmers Reduce Costs

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Having natural habitat in farming areas that supports ladybugs could help increase their abundance in crops where they control pests and help farmers reduce their costs, says a Michigan State University study.

Ladybugs and other predatory insects eat crop pests, saving farmers an estimated $4.6 billion a year on insecticides. Non-crop plants provide these predatory insects with food and shelter, helping them to survive and thrive in areas where they are needed. In an attempt to increase benefits from predatory insects, researchers have often planted strips of flowers along the edges of crop fields. (more…)

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Going wild could improve winged workforce

Increasing Predator-Friendly Land Can Help Farmers Reduce Costs