Funds Available For Farmers, Ranchers To Help Declining Pollinators

June 9, 2014

Florida’s pollinators — like honeybees –  are in trouble.  City sprawl is overtaking their habitat, threatening wildflowers and ecosystems, along with the state’s agricultural industry.  And now farmers and ranchers can get technical and financial assistance to help.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is funding $300,000 in Florida through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to promote conservation practices that help reverse the loss of pollinator food and habitat. The signup deadline is July 18.

Some of the conservation practices that address loss of foraging habitat for pollinators include conservation cover, field borders and hedgerow planting. To learn more, contact the Milton Service Center at 6277 Dogwood Drive or call (850) 623-2441.

“This initiative will improve the state pollinators while reducing food costs by improving fruit and seed set in important agricultural commodities,” said Russell Morgan, Florida’s state conservationist.

Comments

One Response to “Funds Available For Farmers, Ranchers To Help Declining Pollinators”

  1. mary on June 9th, 2014 8:02 am

    Dont forget the pesticides still being used in agriculture are a major cause of pollinator decline.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Features, News