By KADY LANE, guest columnist
This week is National Pollinator Week, which recognizes the importance of supporting pollinator health.
Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District (BCSWCD) works closely with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). One of the most frequently asked questions both organizations field is about pollinator habitats.
It is estimated that three quarters of flowering plants and 35% of our food depends on animal pollinators to reproduce, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Pollinators rely on flowers for food. They need the nectar and pollen. While pollinators are busy collecting what they need for survival from the flower, they accidentally come in contact with the reproductive parts of the flower. This contact results in an accidental deposit of pollen from a different flower. This allows the plant to use this pollen to produce a seed or fruit. Not only are pollinators valuable in this respect, but they are a major part of the food web.
Habitat loss, parasites and disease all contribute to the decline in pollinator population. What can home gardeners and farmers do to prevent this decline? The USDA has established multiple programs to help farmers and home gardeners maintain a robust pollinator population.
Two particular approaches are essential when considering your habitat design, bloom length and diversity.
The first is to focus on variation, including attracting a greater diversity of pollinators and sustaining them for a longer period of time, as well as creating a balance of perennials and annual species, because perennials can take years to establish.
The second major consideration is seeding rate. The lower the weed pressure the lower the necessary seeding rate. With very low weed pressure, you may only need 20 seeds per square foot. However, in temperate areas with high weed pressure and ample rains, you may need 60 seeds per square foot. I recommend checking with the local NRCS office in Bloomington for the best recommendation.
Your biggest challenge will be fighting weeds. Starting with bare ground is by far the best way to begin. You will need to kill the existing ground cover by smothering or tilling. Keep in mind that weeds have a strong desire to live, so once you kill off the existing plant material, there likely are thousands of weed seeds waiting to take off now that their competition is gone. The process can be tough, but the reward in the end is worth the work.
Agricultural producers are a large part of the solution in the mitigation of the decline in pollinator numbers. The NRCS offers both technical and financial assistance to help manage pollinator habitats. Keep in mind that anytime we replace non-native plants with native plants, we also address soil health, erosion control, increase livestock foraging quality and increase agricultural production. With this assistance, producers can create pollinator habitats as buffers along waterways, in pastures, and in or near wetlands.
Our local soil and water conservation district offers smaller scale grants for such work. For more information visit the BCSWCD website at www.browncountyswcd.com/ and select “About ” then “Grants.” The Brown County Clean Water Promise is a larger grant that requires more land be put into pollinator habitat and is a cost share program. This grant follows state soil conservation board best practices.
The district’s “Mini Grant” is perfect for smaller scale projects and is also a cost share grant.
Both grants require an application process. If you do not have internet access reach us directly at 812-988-2211.
Kady Lane has worked as an educator for many years, teaching science in grades seven to 12 as well as adult education for Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Her master’s degree is in environmental studies and her undergraduate is in human services and psychology. Lane is currently the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District educator and can be contacted at [email protected].
