The White House previously released the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, emphasizing that the decline of bee colonies has had a direct effect on the economy and farmers.

The Pollinator Impact

Economic Impact

Native bees contribute over $200 billion to the economy by pollinating crops, while managed hives contribute over $20 billion. Yet from 1947 to 2014 the number of honey bee colonies in the United States went from 6 million colonies to 2.5 million

Expensive Hives

This swift decline has resulted in a hike in hive rental prices for farmers, up roughly five-fold over the past decade.

Pesticides

Pesticide misuse is often quoted as a damaging agent for bee hives. Pesticides are extremely deadly to bees and can kill bees in two ways. Either the bee comes into contact with the pesticide and dies immediately, or it transports the pesticide back to the hive and other bees are affected

Limited Nutritional Diet

The decline of bee colonies can be attributed to several factors including an insufficient amount of forage to maintain bee diets. Some companies and NGOs have released pollinator mixes for small gardens, but what if there was a much more effective solution right in front of our eyes?

Harmful Parasites

Mites are a common cause of bee colony decline. Tracheal mites are deadly and gruesome. They live and reproduce in the trachea of bees, cutting off the bees’ supply of oxygen. Varroa mites cause colony death as well, by preying on young bees or larva, often causing deformities as young bees emerge from their cells.

Habitat loss is a major cause for pollinator decline;

Monarch butterflies, for example, use over 30 different species of milkweed to breed, of which, only 19 varieties are sold by seed distributors. Milkweed growth in the U.S. is affected by herbicide use on farms, urban development, and harsh weather conditions.

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

From 1996 to 2020, the eastern monarch population dropped 88 percent, from an estimated 383 million to just under 45 million. Promoting research and education about the benefits of regionally adapted plant varieties such as phacelia and clovers will help end the population decline of pollinators. By using regionally adapted varieties of plants, we can take advantage of pasturelands to promote pollinator habitats.

There are over 400 million acres of pasture in the United States,

and by including a variety of flowering annual clovers in our nation’s pastures we can greatly enhance the Pollinator environment. Pastures for Pollinators is beneficial to livestock and will also benefit pollinators - one of our most under-appreciated resources.

Pastures for Pollinators is the solution!

Just imagine what 400 million acres would do for native and managed bee colonies and butterfly migration. Pastures for Pollinators can also be used for honey production offering bees a food source and habitat. Farmers receive all of the additional monetary and environmental benefits for their farm, while also supporting sustainable pasture management research. Sounds like a win-win-win. Order yours today!