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Farm Bill can be used for conservation of pollinators

Technical Note No.78, August 2008 1

Using Farm Bill Programs for

Pollinator Conservation

Introduction

More than 30 percent of our food relies on insect pol-

lination, which is overwhelmingly provided by bees.

The annual value of crops pollinated by wild, native

bees in the United States is estimated at $3 billion.

Native bees have declined due to habitat loss and the

careless use of pesticides, among other factors. At the

same time, managed colonies of European honey bees

have suffered a 50 percent decline in recent decades

and face immediate threats from invasive diseases,

pests, and a mysterious ailment called Colony Collapse

Disorder.

Recent research has shown that wild native bees,

which number more than 4,000 species in North Amer-

ica, can contribute substantially to crop pollination

on farms where their habitat needs are met (fig. 1). In

some cases like squash production in New Jersey, na-

tive bees can provide 100 percent of necessary pollina-

tion. As hives of European honey bees become scarcer

and more expensive, restoring native pollinators

becomes ever more important. And while individual

native bee species are susceptible to particular pests, a

diverse community of many species has been shown to

provide consistent pollination services since declines

are buffered by other species that are flourishing.

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008,

otherwise known as the Farm Bill, authorizes the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) to undertake a

broad range of incentive-based conservation programs

on agricultural land (table 1). Many of these programs

rely on conservation practices that can be used to cre-

ate or improve pollinator habitat. Previous USDA rule-

making established the promotion and conservation of

pollinator habitat as a Conservation Security Program

goal and a priority for the Conservation Reserve Pro-

gram’s State Acres for Wildlife (SAFE) practice. New

language in the 2008 Farm Bill makes pollinators and

their habitat a priority for every USDA land manager

and conservationist. The new Farm Bill authorizes

special consideration when determining payments for

practices that promote pollinator habitat during En-

vironmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) imple-

mentation. It requires that native and managed pollina-

tors be considered during the review or development

of Farm Bill conservation practice standards. Most

important of all, the new Farm Bill authorizes the Sec-

retary of Agriculture to encourage “the development

of habitat for native and managed pollinators; and the

use of conservation practices that encourage native

and managed pollinators” during administration of any

conservation program. Congress has recognized that

pollinators are a crucial part of the healthy landscape

panorama, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation

Service (NRCS) participation will be vital to this effort.

Fortunately, the NRCS already offers many opportu-

nities to conserve and create habitat for pollinators

using existing programs and practices. NRCS conser-

vation practices that address habitat needs for native

bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, flies,

Figure 1 Leaf-cutter and mason bees in the genus Osmia

are among the most important native crop pol-

linators. (Photo by Mace Vaughan, The Xerces

Society for Invertebrate Conservation)

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Program Purpose Land eligibility Type of assistance

Conservation Reserve

Enhancement Program

(CREP)

Land retirement program that helps agricul-

tural producers protect environmentally sensi-

tive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife

habitat, and safeguard ground and surface wa-

ter. An offshoot of the Conservation Reserve

Program, CREP emphasizes partnerships

among State, Tribal, or local governments,

private groups, and the USDA.

Lands that address an agriculture-related en-

vironmental issue of State or National signifi-

cance such as impacts to water supplies, loss of

critical habitat for threatened and endangered

wildlife species, soil erosion, and reduced habi-

tat for fish populations such as salmon. Enroll-

ment in a State is limited to specific geographic

areas and practices; about half the States have

CREP programs.

Annual payment plus cost-share of up to 50% of

the eligible costs to install the practice. CREP

contracts require a 10- to 15-year commitment

to keep lands out of agricultural production.

CREP is administered by FSA; NRCS provides

technical assistance. Contact NRCS or Farm

Services Agency (FSA) State or local office.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=hom

e&subject=copr&topic=cep

Conservation Reserve

Program (CRP)

Land retirement program encourages farmers

to convert highly erodible cropland or other

environmentally sensitive acreage to vegeta-

tive cover such as tame or native grasses,

wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or ripar-

ian buffers. Addresses issues raised by State,

regional, and National conservation initiatives.

Highly erodible land, wetland, streamside areas

in pasture land, certain other lands. Eligible

wetlands must have been cropped 3 of 10

previous years, highly erodible cropland 4 of

6 previous years. Pollinators are high priority

wildlife under CRP practice CP38 Safe Acres

for Wildlife Enhancement.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/

safe08.pdf

50% cost-share for establishing permanent

cover and conservation practices, and annual

rental payments for land enrolled in 10- to 15-

year contracts. Additional financial incentives

are available for some practices. CRP is

administered by FSA; NRCS provides technical

land eligibility determinations, conservation

planning, and practice implementation. Contact

NRCS or FSA State or local office.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=hom

e&subject=copr&topic=crp

Conservation Stewardship

Program (CSP) (formerly

Conservation Security

Program)

Addresses resource concerns comprehensive-

ly by 1) undertaking additional conservation

activities; and 2) improving, maintaining, and

managing existing conservation activities. The

CSP encourages farmers to broadly improve

their conservation effort to protect water and

air quality, improve soil quality, store carbon

in soils, add wildlife habitat, conserve water,

and save energy.

Private and Tribal agricultural land, and forest-

ed land incidental to agriculture. Land convert-

ed to cropland since 2008 is not eligible.

Annual payments based on expenses, foregone

income, and environmental benefits; 5-year

contracts renewable for another 5 years. Contact

NRCS State or local office.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp

Environmental Quality

Incentives Program (EQIP)

Promotes agricultural production and environ-

mental quality as compatible National goals by

helping eligible participants install or imple-

ment structural and management practices.

Land on which agricultural commodities, live-

stock, or forest-related products are produced.

Up to 75% cost-share for installed conservation

practices or 100% of foregone income; contracts

run 1 year past last practice installation, up to

10 years. Up to 3 years of incentive payments for

certain management practices. Special payment

consideration for practices that promote pollina-

tor habitat. Contact NRCS State or local office.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip

Table 1 Major Farm Bill conservation programs that can be used to promote pollinators on working lands. All programs are voluntary. Please see the NRCS Web site for more information (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/), and visit the USDA Service Center Locator to find USDA offices that administer these programs

(http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app).

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Program Purpose Land eligibility Type of assistance

Grassland Reserve

Program (GRP)

Help owners and operators protect graz-

ing uses and related conservation values by

restoring and conserving eligible land through

rental contracts, easements, and restoration

agreements.

Historical grassland used primarily for graz-

ing that has high conservation, ecological, or

archeological value.

50% cost-share for restoration; annual payment

up to 75% of the grazing value of the land for 10-,

15-, or 20-year rental contracts, or easement pay-

ments no greater than fair market value less the

encumbered grazing value for permanent ease-

ments or easements for the maximum duration

allowed under State law. GRP is jointly admin-

istered by NRCS, FSA, and U.S. Forest Service.

Contact NRCS or FSA State or local office.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/GRP

Wetland Reserve Program

(WRP)

Land retirement program to restore, protect,

or enhance wetlands on private or Tribal

lands.

Farmed wetland or wetland converted to

agriculture before 1985, together with function-

ally dependent adjacent land, or cropland or

grassland that was used for agricultural produc-

tion prior to natural flooding.

Private lands: 1) Permanent easement payment

equal to forgone value plus 100% of restoration

costs; or 2) 30-year easement payment (75% of

forgone value) plus 75% of restoration costs; or

3) restoration cost-share agreement (usually 10

years) with payment of 75% of restoration costs.

Tribal lands: restored through any combination

of 2 and 3. Contact NRCS State or local office.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp

Wildlife Habitat Incentive

Program (WHIP)

Develop wildlife habitat on private and Tribal

lands.

High-priority fish and wildlife habitats, espe-

cially habitat for declining species, otherwise

unfunded beneficial practices, or locally deter-

mined fish and wildlife priority habitats.

Up to 75% cost-share for conservation practices

under standard 5- to 10-year contracts, or higher

cost-share for a limited number of 15-year con-

tracts. Contact NRCS State or local office.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip

(http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app).

Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation

Technical Note No. 78, August 2008

and hummingbirds, can have a great overall ecologi-

cal benefit, and improve balance sheets for growers of

adjacent insect-pollinated crops (fig. 2).

This technical note outlines opportunities within cur-

rent Farm Bill programs to implement pollinator con-

servation actions on the ground, especially what the

NRCS field conservationists can do at the local or field

level (Field-level opportunities). The field-level advice

primarily explores how current conservation practices

(e.g., Practice 340 —Cover Crop) can be used to benefit

pollinators. Secondly, this technical note identifies op-

portunities for NRCS State, area, basin, and watershed

offices to support conservation of crop-pollinating

native bees and provide and enhance pollinator habitat

during land or wildlife habitat improvement activities

(State-level opportunities). At the State level, support

for pollinators and their habitats includes developing

biology technology notes with State-appropriate plant

lists, conservation program enhancement job sheets,

and other guidance documents for field office conser-

vationists.

We specifically promote native bees because of their

economic importance for agriculture and their key-

stone role in the healthy and complex food webs that

support diverse wildlife. However, conservation prac-

tices implemented for native bees will also greatly ben-

efit an array of other pollinators and beneficial insects,

including managed and feral European honey bees,

butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, and the preda-

tors and parasites of crop pests. It is these insects that

feed wildlife either directly or by producing many of

the plant fruits that sustain birds and mammals and,

thereby, help hold natural systems together.

Field-level opportunities

Incorporating pollinators into current conser-

vation practices

Tables 2 and 3 provide details on how current con-

servation practices can be used to benefit pollina-

tors, particularly crop-pollinating native bees. Native

pollinator conservation practices provide natural or

seasonal habitat to: 1) increase the abundance of pol-

len and nectar while ensuring that plants are in flower

from early in the spring (e.g., willow) through late fall

(e.g., goldenrod); 2) add or protect potential nest sites;

and 3) provide a refuge from pesticides. Whenever

possible, conservationists should use native plants

since native pollinators and other wildlife are adapted

to them for food and shelter. Most of the conservation

practices outlined in table 2 allow field office planners

to include diverse flowering plants that provide se-

quential bloom throughout the growing season. Some

practices allow for creation or protection of nest sites,

such as snags or stable untilled ground for solitary

bees, or small cavities (usually created by rodents)

for bumble bees. Any practice that increases areas of

natural habitat that are not sprayed with pesticides

or implements buffers to reduce pesticide drift will

minimize harm to native pollinators. (See the Xerces

Society publication Farming for Bees: Guidelines for

Providing Native Bee Habitat on Farms for more

information.)

Table 2 lists conservation practices alphabetically and

describes the potential for each practice to supply or

improve habitat for pollinators. The pollinator notes

column describes pollinator habitat components that

can be provided by each practice and offers recom-

mendations for management practices that require

careful timing of management activities (e.g., mowing

or fire) to benefit or reduce harm to pollinators. Table

3 presents the general habitat requirements of pollina-

tors and lists the conservation practices that can be

used to supply these requirements.

Figure 2 Creation of hedgerows at Butler Farm in Win-

ters, CA, will provide pollinator nest sites, ref-

uge, and forage. (Photo by Mace Vaughan, The

Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation)

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Conservation practice (unit) Code Pollinator notes

Alley Cropping (acre) 311 Can include native trees, shrubs and vines (e.g., black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), Rubus spp., etc.) or row covers (e.g., various legumes) that provide nectar or pollen.

Note: Black locust should be used with care because it is invasive in certain habitats outside of its natural range.

Channel Bank Vegetation (acre) 322 Can include diverse flowering trees, shrubs, vines, and forbs. Channel banks provide a unique opportunity to supply early-flowering willow and, in dry areas, late flowering native forbs (e.g., goldenrod (Solidago spp.)). These stable areas

of habitat also may support solitary bee ground-nests where the soil surface is accessible, or bumble bees where vegeta-tion becomes dense or duff layers accumulate.

Conservation Cover (acre) 327 Can include diverse forbs (e.g., various legumes) to increase plant diversity and ensure flowers are in bloom for as long as possible, providing nectar and pollen throughout the season.

Conservation Crop Rotation (acre) 328 Cover crops used during conservation crop rotations can include forbs (e.g., various legumes, buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), phacelia (Phacelia spp.), etc.) that provide abundant forage for pollinators. Insecticides should not be applied to

these conservation covers. Moving insect-pollinated crops no more than 800 feet during the rotation may help maintain local populations of native bees that have become established because of a specific crop or conservation cover.

Constructed Wetland (acre) 656 Can include stable soil as nesting substrate in more upland areas, as well as plants that provide pollen and nectar for native bees and other pollinators. Possible plant genera with obligate or facultative wetland species include: Asclepias,

Bidens, Cephalanthus, Cornus, Crataegus, Epilobium, Eupatorium, Hibiscus, Hypericum, Iris, Juncus, Ledum, Lobelia, Ludwigia, Lysimachia, Mimulus, Ranunculus, Rhexia, Rhododendron, Ribes, Rosa, Rubus, Salix, Solidago,

Spiraea, and Vaccinium. Look for appropriate wetland plants for the region from these and other genera.

Contour Buffer Strips (acre) 332 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. In addition, mowing only every 2 or 3 years to benefit wildlife also will benefit nesting bumble bees. To protect bumble bee nests, mowing should occur

in the late fall when colonies have died for the year and queens are overwintering.

Cover Crop (acre) 340 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of cov-er crop plant species that come into bloom at different times and provide a sequence of bloom throughout the year. Some

examples include clover (Trifolium spp.), phacelia (Phacelia spp.), and buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.). Many “beneficial insect” cover crop blends include plant species that will also provide forage for pollinators.

Critical Area Planting (acre) 342 Can include flowering plant species that provide abundant pollen and nectar for native bees and other pollinators. Planted areas may support stable soil for ground-nesting solitary bees, or dense vegeta tion under which bumble bee

queens may hibernate or build nests.

Early Successional Habitat Development/Management (acre) 647 This management practice is important for maintaining open and sunny habitat for pollinators. Note: To minimize damage to pollinator populations, disturbance practices should be implemented only every 2 to 3

years in rotation and, ideally, on only 30% or less of the overall site. This allows for habitat heterogeneity and opportuni-ties for recoloni zation of non-treated habitat. For example, managers could mow or burn a small portion of the habitat

(less than 1/3 of the site each year or two) on a 3- to 6-year cycle. Alternatively, they could treat a fifth of the site each year, on a 5-year cycle. In addition, when possible, disturbance practices should be implemented when most pollinators

are inactive, such as from late fall to early spring. For details, see the Xerces Society publication Pollinators in Natural Areas: A Primer on Habitat Management.

Field Border (foot) 386 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Strive for a mix of forbs, vines, and shrubs that come into bloom at different times throughout the year. Site management (for example, mowing) should

occur in the late fall to minimize impacts on pollen and nectar sources used by pollinators. Alternatively, allowing field borders to become overgrown may provide nesting habitat for bumble bees, as well as abundant forage. Stable (untilled)

field borders may provide opportunities for solitary bees to nest in the soil.

Table 2 Conservation practices that can be used to create or enhance pollinator habitat

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Conservation practice (unit) Code Pollinator notes

Filter Strip (acre) 393 Can include legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of cover crop plant species that come into bloom at different times and provide a sequence of bloom throughout the year. Site manage-

ment (for example, mowing or burning) should occur in late fall to early spring to minimize impacts on pollinators.

Grassed Waterway (acre) 412 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. In dry regions, these sites may be able to support flowering forbs with higher water requirements and thus provide bloom later in the summer.

Hedgerow Planting (foot) 422 Can include forbs, vines, and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of plant spe-cies that come into bloom at different times and provide a sequence of bloom throughout the year. Bee nesting sites also

may be incorporated, including semi-bare ground or wooden block nests. Including strips of unmowed grasses and forbs along the edge of the hedgerow may provide nesting opportunities for bumble bees. This practice also can help reduce

the drift of pesticides into areas of pollinator habitat.

Herbaceous Wind Barriers (foot) 603 Can include diverse forbs and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of plant spe-cies that come into bloom at different times and provide a sequence of bloom throughout the year.

Multi-Story Cropping (acre) 379 Can include woody plants carefully chosen to supply pollen and nectar for pollinators. Look for mixes of plants that flower at different times throughout the growing season and can support populations of pollinators over time.

Pasture and Hay Planting (acre) 512 Can include diverse legumes (e.g., alfalfa) or other forbs that, when in bloom, provide pollen and nectar for native bees.

Pest Management (acre) 595 In general, implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for a crop reduces the use and impact of pest control chemi-cals on pollinators. In addition, plant species commonly used in IPM to support the beneficial insects that help manage

pests also can support bees. Examples of these plants include: phacelia (Phacelia spp.), sunflowers (Helianthus spp.), buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), and yarrow (Achillea spp.). Pest management practices also can include replacement of

invasive or exotic plant species with flowering native trees, shrubs, vines, legumes, or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of plant species that come into bloom at different times and provide a

sequence of bloom throughout the year.

Prescribed Burning (acre) 338 Can greatly benefit pollinators by maintaining a diverse mix of open, early succes sional habitat in various stages of habi-tat maturity.

Note: It is best if: 1) only 30% or less of a site is burned at any one time to allow for recolonization by pollinators from adjacent habitat; 2) burning occurs only every 3 to 6 years; and 3) burning occurs when pollinators are least active, such

as when most plants have senesced or in the fall.

Prescribed Forestry (acre) 409 Can help maintain open understory and forest gaps that support diverse forbs and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. Standing dead trees may be kept or drilled with smooth 3- to 6-inch deep holes to provide nesting sites for

bees.

Prescribed Grazing (acre) 528 Can help maintain early successional habitat and its associated flowering plants. Ensure that grazing objectives include a diverse plant community that incorporates legumes, forbs, and appropriate flowering woody species to create floral and

structural diversity.

Range Planting (acre) 550 Can include diverse legumes, other forbs and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees.

Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (acre) 329 Can protect bees that are nesting in the ground at the base of the plants they pollinate. Soil tillage digs up these nests (located 0.5 to 3 feet underground) or blocks emergence of new adult bees bred the proceeding year.

Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (acre) 643 Can be used to provide diverse locally grown native forage (forbs, shrubs, vines, and trees) and nesting resources for pol-linators. Many specialist pollinators that are closely tied to rare plants or habitats may significantly benefit from efforts to

protect rare habitat. In addition, certain rare plants require pollinators to reproduce. Note: Pollinator plants should only be planted if they were part of the rare ecosystem you are trying to restore.

Table 2 Conservation practices that can be used to create or enhance pollinator habitat—Continued

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Conservation practice (unit) Code Pollinator notes

Riparian Forest Buffer (acre) 391 Can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. The stable habitat may supply nest sites to solitary ground and wood-tunnel nesting bees, as well as bumble bees. This practice also can

help reduce drift of pesticides onto areas of pollinator habitat.

Riparian Herbaceous Cover (acre) 390 Can include diverse forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. In drier parts of the U.S., many of these forbs flower in the late summer and fall, when pollinator forage is needed most.

Silvopasture Establishment (acre) 381 If grazing intensity is low enough to allow for plants to flower, this practice can include legumes and other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for bees. Trees and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar also can be planted.

Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (acre) 395 Plants chosen for adjoining riparian areas can include trees, shrubs, and forbs that provide pollen and nectar for pollina-tors. Maximizing plant diversity along riparian corridors will result in more pollinators and other terrestrial insects to

feed fish in the streams.

Streambank and Shoreline Protec-tion (foot) 580 If vegetation is used for streambank protection, plants can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. Good candidates include willow (Salix spp.), dogwood (Cornus spp.), and goldenrod

(Solidago spp.).

Stripcropping (acre) 585 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. If insect pollinated crops are grown, plants used in adjacent strips of vegetative cover may be carefully chosen to provide a complementary bloom

period to the crop, such that the flowers available in the field are extended over a longer period of time.

Tree/Shrub Establishment (acre) 612 Can include trees, shrubs, and vines especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. Woody plants with pithy stems (e.g., elderberry (Sambucus spp.), boxelder (Acer negundo), and raspberries (Rubus spp.) also may be cho-

sen to provide potential nest sites for solitary bees that nest in wood stems.

Upland Wildlife Habitat Manage-ment (acre) 645 Can include managing for pollinator forage or pollinator nest sites, such as including nest blocks or snags for solitary bees that nest in tunnels in wood, access to bare soil for ground-nesting solitary bees, and small mammal burrows or

overgrown grass cover for bumble bees. Note: Please see Early Successional Habitat Development/Management (647) and Prescribed Burning (338) for manage-

ment techniques that minimize the disruption of pollinator communities.

Vegetative Barriers (foot) 601 Can include plants that provide pollen and nectar for pollinators.

Wetland Enhancement (acre) 659 Wetland and adjacent upland can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pol-linators. Snags can be protected or nest blocks for bees erected.

Wetland Restoration (acre) 657 Wetland and adjacent upland can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pol-linators. Snags can be protected or nest blocks for bees erected.

Wetland Wildlife Habitat Manage-ment (acre) 644 Wetland and adjacent upland can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pol-linators. Snags can be protected or nest blocks for bees erected.

Note: Please see Early Successional Habitat Development/Management (647) and Prescribed Burning (338) for manage-ment techniques that minimize the disruption of pollinator communities.

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establish-ment (foot) 380 Can include trees, shrubs, vines, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. Windbreaks and shelter belts are a good place to put nesting structures for native bees, and they can help reduce drift of insecticides

onto a site.

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation (foot) 650 Can include trees, shrubs, vines, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. If appropriate, dead trees and snags may be kept or drilled with holes to provide nesting sites for bees.

Table 2 Conservation practices that can be used to create or enhance pollinator habitat—Continued

Note: Many FSA-sponsored CRP and CREP conservation practices are similar in name and intent, so the recommendations in this table can often be applied to them.

Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation

Technical Note No. 78, August 2008

Pollinator resource Code and conservation practice (unit)

Forage (diverse sources of pollen and nec-

tar that support pollinators from early in the

spring to late in the fall)

311—Alley Cropping (acre)

322—Channel Bank Vegetation (acre)

327—Conservation Cover (acre)

328—Conservation Crop Rotation (acre)

656—Constructed Wetland (acre)

332—Contour Buffer Strips (acre)

340—Cover Crop (acre)

342—Critical Area Planting (acre)

386—Field Border (foot)

393—Filter Strip (acre)

412—Grassed Waterway (acre)

422—Hedgerow Planting (foot)

603—Herbaceous Wind Barriers (foot)

379—Multi-Story Cropping (acre)

512—Pasture and Hay Planting (acre)

595—Pest Management (acre)

409—Prescribed Forestry (acre)

528—Prescribed Grazing (acre)

550—Range Planting (acre)

643—Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (acre)

391—Riparian Forest Buffer (acre)

390—Riparian Herbaceous Cover (acre)

381—Silvopasture Establishment (acre)

395—Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (acre)

580—Streambank and Shoreline Protection (foot)

585—Stripcropping (acre)

612—Tree/Shrub Establishment (acre)

645—Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)

601—Vegetative Barriers (foot)

659—Wetland Enhancement (acre)

657—Wetland Restoration (acre)

644—Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)

380—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (foot)

650—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation (foot)

Nest sites (stable ground, holes in wood,

cavities for bumble bees, or overwintering

sites for bumble bee queens)

322—Channel Bank Vegetation (acre)

656—Constructed Wetland (acre)

332—Contour Buffer Strips (acre)

342—Critical Area Planting (acre)

386—Field Border (foot)

422—Hedgerow Planting (foot)

409—Prescribed Forestry (acre)

329—Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (acre)

643—Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (acre)

391—Riparian Forest Buffer (acre)

612—Tree/Shrub Establishment (acre)

645—Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)

659—Wetland Enhancement (acre)

657—Wetland Restoration (acre)

644—Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)

380—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (foot)

650—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation (foot)

Table 3 Pollinator requirements and the conservation practices that can be used to provide them in the field

9Technical Note No. 78, August 2008

Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation

Pollinator resource Code and conservation practice (unit)

Pesticide protection (refuge from spray,

buffers to drift, etc.)

322—Channel Bank Vegetation (acre)

656—Constructed Wetland (acre)

342—Critical Area Planting (acre)

422—Hedgerow Planting (foot)

391—Riparian Forest Buffer (acre)

657—Wetland Restoration (acre)

380—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (foot)

Site management for pollinators 647—Early Successional Habitat Development or Management (acre)

595—Pest Management (acre)

338—Prescribed Burning (acre)

409—Prescribed Forestry (acre)

528—Prescribed Grazing (acre)

643—Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (acre)

645—Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)

644—Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)

Table 3 Pollinator requirements and the conservation practices that can be used to provide them in the field—Continued

State-level opportunities

Pollinator conservation biology technical

notes

Each State can develop pollinator conservation biol-

ogy tech ni cal notes to help field conserva tionists

promote pollinators in their conservation planning and

implementation. Ideally, the notes will:

• Emphasize the importance of leaving as much

land as possible in relatively natural condition

since many pollinators require this for successful

completion of their life cycles.

• Provide details on the native and nonnative

plants used by native bees (or other pollinators

such as butterflies) that could be included in

various conservation practices throughout the

State. Important information to include for each

plant is flowering period and suitable habitat

conditions for planting, as well as information on

seeding rates.

• Stress the importance of having many plant spe-

cies in bloom throughout the growing season.

In practice, this means providing at least three

blooming pollinator plants during spring, sum-

mer, and fall.

• Highlight the importance of nest sites for crop

pollinating native bees. These nest sites include:

– partially bare, well-drained ground for solitary

ground-nesting bees

– narrow tunnels in standing dead wood or

plants with pithy stems for solitary tunnel-

nesting bees

– small cavities, such as abandoned rodent bur-

rows or areas of overgrown, fallen grass for

bumble bees

Oregon, New Jersey, and Montana NRCS State Offices

have produced pollinator conservation biology techni-

cal notes, and others are in the making. The Xerces

Society drew from these sources and other technical

materials to create a template of a State technical

note. These documents and others referenced in State-

level opportunities are listed with Web locations in

table 4, as are complementary Fish and Wildlife Habi-

tat Management Leaflets produced by the Agricultural

Wildlife Conservation Center. These documents are also

available at the PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.

gov/pollinators/NRCSdocuments.html).

10 U

. 7

, A

Description or title Document type Scope Web location (if available)

Bats (PDF; 935 KB) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet U.S. http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=18509.wba

Butterflies (PDF; 2312 KB) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet U.S. http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=18479.wba

Conservation Cover: Wild-flower Meadow for Wildlife

and Pollinators 327a (PDF; 95 KB)

Conservation Practice Job Sheet Virginia http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/references/public/VA/327a_Cover_Crop_Wildflower_js_Final.pdf

County Irrigated Land Information MT 2008 (DOC;

79 KB)

Conservation Project Ranking Criteria Montana http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/eqip2008/irrigatedland2008.html

CSP Wildlife Enhancement Activity - Pollinator Areas

(PDF; 74 KB)

Conservation Security Program, Enhancement

Activity Job Sheet

Alabama ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/AL/tech/csp08/al_pollinator_areas.pdf

EQIP Ranking Instructions SD FY08 (DOC; 389 KB) Conservation Project Ranking Criteria South Dakota

EQIP Ranking Summary Sheet–NRCS MT Madison

County 2005 (PDF; 73 KB)

Conservation Project Ranking Criteria Montana

Factors Affecting Butterfly Use of Filter Strips in South-

west Minnesota (PDF; 1639 KB)

Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Leaflet Minnesota ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/WHMI/WEB/pdf/TechnicalLeaflets/Butterfly.pdf

Habitat Development for Pollinator Insects MT-20

(PDF; 47 KB)

Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note Montana ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/MT/www/technical/biology/Biology_Tech_Note_MT20_Rev3.pdf

Habitat Development for Pollinators NJ (PDF; 102

KB)

Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note New Jersey http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/documents/NJ_BIO_TECH_NOTE-Pollinators.pdf

Montana Native Plants for Pollinator-Friendly Plantings

(PDF; 1982 KB)

Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note Montana ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/MT/www/technical/plants/pollinator.pdf

Native Pollinators (PDF; 4730 KB) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet U.S. http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=18497.wba

NRCS Pollinator Tech Note TEMPLATE–Xerces (DOC;

649 KB)

Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note U.S.

Plant Management for Na-tive, Culturally Significant

Plants EPL40 (PDF; 67 KB)

Conservation Security Program, Enhancement

Activity Job Sheet

U.S. http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/Jobsheets/EPL40_Native_Culturally_Significant_Plants.pdf

Table 4 NRCS documents for pollinator conservation and enhancement

. 7

, A

Description or title Document type Scope Web location (if available)

Plant Management for Nec-tar Corridors EPL41 (PDF;

788 KB)

Conservation Security Program, Enhancement

Activity Job Sheet

U.S. http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/Jobsheets/EPL41_Nectar_Corridors.pdf

Plants for Pollinators in Or-egon PM 13 (PDF; 402 KB) Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note Oregon ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/OR/Technical_Notes/Plant%20Materials/PMC13.pdf

Plants for Pollinators in the Intermountain West PM 2

(PDF; 1405 KB)

Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note Intermountain West http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/idpmstn7641.pdf

Pollinator Ranking Form Final SD (XLS; 103 KB) Conservation Project Ranking Criteria South Dakota

Pollinators South Dakota Fact Sheet SD–FS–55 (PDF;

72 KB)

Pollinator Conservation Biology Fact Sheet South Dakota

Ruby-throated hummingbird (PDF; 416 KB) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet U.S. ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/WHMI/WEB/pdf/RUBYthroated1.pdf

WHIP Ranking Template Questions SD 2008 (PDF;

150 KB)

Conservation Project Ranking Criteria South Dakota ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/SD/win/Intranet/Bulletins/FY08_Bulletins/WHIP%20Instructions.pdf

Table 4 NRCS documents for pollinator conservation and enhancement

Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation

Technical Note No. 78, August 2008

Pollinator conservation job sheets

States can also develop pollinator conservation job

sheets. For example, Virginia has produced a Conser-

vation Cover job sheet on establishing and maintaining

wildflower meadows for wildlife and pollinators (fig.

3). This job sheet provides general criteria and specifi-

cations, details on site maintenance, lists of appropri-

ate plants, and tools for site planning.

Conservation project ranking criteria

States can include a line item that provides additional

points during scoring if proposed conservation proj-

ects address the flowering or nesting needs of pollina-

tors. In Montana, an EQIP or WHIP line item awards

20 additional points for projects that include sequen-

tially blooming pollinator-friendly plants. South Dako-

ta and California have also developed project ranking

criteria that support pollinators.

Conservation Security Program, pollinator

enhancements

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) includes

enhance ments that may be pulled into State programs

to conserve pollinators. Nectar Corridors (CSP En-

hancement Activity Job Sheet for Plant Management

EPL41) and Native, Culturally Significant Plants

(EPL40) both provide additional incentives for incor-

poration of pollinator habitat into CSP contracts. In

addition, an enhancement specifically for pollinator

habitat is available for the 2008 Conservation Security

Program sign-up. The Conservation Security Program

was replaced by the Conservation Stewardship Pro-

gram in May 2008, but, these enhancements will con-

tinue in similar form.

Other State opportunities

NRCS State programs can add pollinator habitat crite-

ria to their existing Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guides,

or develop specific documents that assess pollinator

habitat. They can also incorporate information on pol-

linators into their State vegetation guides.

Plant Materials Center assistance

Regional NRCS Plant Materials Centers (PMC) and

plant material specialists can develop field trials to test

individual plants or combinations of plant materials

with a native pollinator focus. The Corvallis PMC (Cor-

vallis, OR), Rose Lake PMC (East Lansing, MI), Lock-

eford PMC (Locke ford, CA), and the National PMC

(Beltsville, MD) are currently developing demonstra-

tion insectary plantings and recommendations for pol-

linator seeding mixes. PMC staff can work with States

to produce regional pollinator conservation biology

technical notes and other documents.

State office assistance

The NRCS Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center

and several private foundations funded the Xerces

Society to provide NRCS State Offices with technical

support to help implement pollinator conservation

measures. Please contact Mace Vaughan

(mace@xerces.org) if you are interested in this ser-

vice.

For more information about pollinator conservation

measures, please see the NRCS Ecological Sciences

Division publications (http://www.nrcs.usda.

gov/technical/ECS/database/technotes.html), or

visit the Xerces Society (http://www.xerces.org/

pollinator-conservation-agriculture/) or the Pollinator

Partnership (http://www.pollinator.org/).

Figure 3 Fire can be used in meadows, prairies, and sa-

vannahs to encourage forbs that feed and shelter

pollinators. (Photo by Jeff Vanaga, NRCS)plants.usda.gov/pollinators/Using_Farm_Bill_Programs_for_Pollinator_Conservation.pdf

Aubrey Shepherd's posts that ought to be seen by everyone

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Farm Bill programs may be used for conserving pollinators!

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