Farmers can help save bees and other wild pollinators

Farmers can help save bees and other wild pollinators Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Vermont describes how a new study may help to get farmers involved in the conservation of wild pollinator species.

About two-thirds of the world’s most important food crops depend on bees and other pollinators.

These creatures are essentially keeping up a part of the food industry that is not only critical for feeding the global population, but is worth billions of dollars a year. As seen above in the video the Farmers can help save bees and other wild pollinators.

Pollinator species, including bees, are vanishing across the globe. Many of our best crop pollinators live underground for most of the year, sometimes at the base of the very plants they pollinate. To protect them, turn over soil only where you need to. Allow crops to bolt. If possible, allow leafy crops like lettuce to flower if they need to be tilled right away.

The research team is examining which wild bees are the most important to what crops. The purpose of the research is to inform farmers on practices that will conserve wild pollinators in a way that will increase their production as well. From news headlines to environmental campaigns to alarming documentaries, we’re warned that if the bees go extinct, we’ll go with them. It makes sense — about 75 percent of crops are reliant on animal pollinators, which are often honeybees. 

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: University of Vermont/ Gund Institute