N.C. Pollinator Protection Strategy

Pollinators are in trouble. Habitat loss, disease and environmental changes have contributed to the decline of pollinators, according to USDA-NRCS. The best way to reverse this is a multi-step approach to support pollinators through expanding and protecting habitats on the farm and protecting pollinators. Listen as Commissioner Troxler talks with the Southern Farm Network about the importance of ag pollinators: Three Steps to Pollinator Success 1. Recognize native pollinators and pollinator habitats already on the farm. 2. Adapt existing farm and land management practices to avoid causing undue harm to the pollinators already present. 3. Provide habitat for native bees on and around the farm. Adapted from Farming for Bees, Xerces Society, March 2013

NCDA&CS Pollinator outreach videos:

Resources

• Honey Bee Health Coalition
• USDA: Agricultural Research Service What is a Varroa Mite?
• Association of American Pesticide Control Officials – (AAPCO) – Control Officials
• Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA)
• Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) Inspection Services
• Chatham Mills “Pollinator Paradise” Garden - N.C. Cooperative Extension
• N.C. Ag Chemical Manual (pdf) - Relative toxicity of ag chemicals to honeybees - pg 68
• Pollinator Protection - NCSU, Center for IPM
• Plants for pollinators (pdf) - Pollinator Partnership
• N.C. Beekeepers Association
• NCRS Documents and Resources for Pollinator Conservation and Enhancements (pdf) - USDA
• Bee City USA
• BeeSmart Pollinator Garden app - Pollinator Partnership
• Announcing New Steps to Promote Pollinator Health - White House
• Working Trees for Pollinators - (pdf) USDA Agroforestry

Resources for Pesticide Inspectors

• Honey Bee Health Coalition
• EPA Beekill Inspection Guidance
• Michigan Pollinator Initiative
• Pollinator Protection Worksheet - Pesticide Inspector (pdf)
• Pollinator Protection Worksheet - Apiary Inspector (pdf)
• Pollinator Protection Worksheet - Both Pesticide and Apiary Inspector (pdf)

NCDA&CS Making a Difference

Click on the above photo to see photos from our facilities.

Several divisions within the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are making a difference in regards to protecting pollinator habitats through regulatory authority and developing new programs to support pollinators. NCDA&CS is working with university researchers and other state and local partners to make a difference.

• The Plant Industry Division oversees beneficial insects, including inspecting honey bees.
• Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division educates consumers and farmers on proper pesticide usage. Click on the image at right to visit their bee pages.
• The Agronomic Division helps farmers improve management of land to maintain effective habitat areas.
• With funding from Syngenta, our 18 Research Stations are planting pollinator habitats using a variety of farm-friendly flowering crops. N.C. State University researchers are working on best practices for these habitats.
• The N.C. Forest Service has pollinator gardens and wildlife food plots at many state educational forests and are working to find ways to support even more pollinators.
• Division of Soil and Water Conservation helps farmers and landowners incorporate pollinator habitat areas into best managament plans through consultations and cost-share programs. PDF: Establishing Pollinator Habitat through CREP

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