Our bee lab has recently embarked on a three-year project focused on educating extension professionals about the biology and role of wild bees as early spring crop pollinators. This project is supported by a Professional Development Program Grant from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education (NE-SARE).
GOAL: We are seeking out agricultural service providers who work closely with growers such as consultants, extension educators, researchers, master naturalists and master gardeners to enlist in our free education program and commit to taking what you learn and sharing it with agricultural producers across the northeast.
Our project will develop five educational modules focused on five topics:
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Wild native bee biodiversity, ecology, and natural history in the eastern US (apple orchards in particular)
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Habitat management for enhancing wild bee populations
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Best management practices for pollinator-freindly pesticide use
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The economic value of wild and managed bees as agricultural pollinators
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Using the smartphone-based monitoring tool for guiding pollinator management decisions on a local scale
While the education modules are focused on apple production there are resources included to help share information with other growers including small fruits and vegetable growers.
If you would like access to this education program, you must commit to giving at least one presentation along with collecting surveys from participating audience (growers) plus filling out a self-survey. For more information or to get connected please subscribe to our website and email mtv32[at]cornell[dot]edu
In Spring 2024 we will be travelling around the northeast in support of this project to give in-person trainings to those interested. However, training and coordination to get involved in the program can be facilitated via online discussions and communication with our team.
December 2024 this program will also be distributed through the Extension Foundation Website.
