Page 83 - AMEFT Journal 2021-2

Another component of the Bee+ Scholarship encouraged farmer par- ticipation in Pollinator Partnership’s Bee Friendly Farming programme. To date, 54,202 acres of almonds have been Bee Friendly certified, meaning farmers are actively protecting polli- nator populations by implementing positive, incremental changes on- farm.
“As a partnership designed by na- ture, almonds take our responsibi- lity for honey bee health seriously. Through these efforts, we diversify and expand the nutritious forage that honey bees find in almond orchards each year while extending our efforts outside the orchard to benefit native pollinators too,” said Josette Lewis, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer for the Al- mond Board.
Ben King, a fourth-generation al- mond farmer based in Colusa, Cali- fornia, has planted cover crops on his farm for more than five years. “It comes out of a love for bees and re- cognising the importance of taking what nature gives you and acting as a steward,” said King.
As almonds are the first commercial crop in North America to bloom, King notes that “almond orchards are the first stop for the honey bees, and the trees’ pollen is their first major source of nutrition. As a result, hives regu-
Consumers are keen to know about both dietary benefits and the environmental impact of their food and drink choices.
larly leave stronger as they move on to pollinate other crops across the country, an effect amplified with the addition of more floral biodiversity via cover crops.”
By investing in blooming cover crops, King has not only seen a benefit to pollinators, but also to the overall health of his orchard, especially as it relates to soil. “Soil is the foundation of farming and by planting pollinator habitat you are creating a healthy eco- system,” notes King. Cover crops also provide positive impacts on carbon sequestration and can improve the amount of moisture that can be sto- red in the soil.
“It’s clear this is the path forward. But there is a long-term invest- ment associated with making these
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changes. Luckily, the Almond Board is progressive and supports t h e s e initiatives on farmers’ behalf,” King said.
In 2020, ABC invested more than $750,000 in activities that directly be- nefit pollinator health. This included $300,000 in incentives and technical assistance to expand pollinator forage and habitat on-farm. ABC will conti- nue to invest in providing tools and options to farmers to continue expan- ding pollinator habitat in 2021.
Bolstering these efforts, ABC and the University of California, Davis has partnered to publish a cover crop ma- nagement guide for almond farmers. The culmination of years of research on the management and benefits of cover crops for both pollinators and soil health, this practical guide will be released this summer and drive adop- tion of a practice which promotes bi- odiversity and carbon sequestration.
This work builds upon a long- standing commitment to pollinator health. Since 1995, the California al- mond community has supported 126 research projects – more than any other crop group – to address the five major factors impacting honey bee health, including varroa mites, pest and disease management, lack of ge- netic diversity, pesticide exposure, and access to forage and nutrition.
(Source: Pixabay; Image by Michael Siebert)
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