In Washington, D.C., a $4 million, five-year commitment to restore and protect pollinator habitat across hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland in North America was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, General Mills and the Xerces Society. Through 2021, this partnership will help to plant over 100,000 acres of pollinator habitat such as native wildflower field edges and flowering hedgerows around farmland.
Providing habitat in agriculture landscapes has been shown to help a variety of pollinators, including bumble bees, squash bees, honey bees and butterflies; while providing benefits to crops that need insect pollinators. Such habitat can also improve water quality, reduce soil erosion and provide habitat for game and songbirds.
Six Xerces Pollinator Conservation Biologists will support U.S. farmers by providing individual consulting on habitat restoration and pollinator-friendly farm management practices, evaluate habitat and serve as advisors to other conservation agency staff in the regions they serve.