Welcome to the University of Vermont Extension Pollinator Program
The purpose of this effort is to support the adoption of farm practices that promote the well-being of pollinators, through education and applied research, in collaboration with other agencies, organizations. and people doing similar work.
Pollinators are essential to the production of many food crops. More than 100 U.S. grown crops rely on pollinators, which add an estimated $18 billion in crop production revenue. Pollinators also support healthy ecosystems needed for clean air, stable soils, and a diverse wildlife.
Both wild and domesticated pollinators are at risk. Honeybees are of concern nationwide, as the number of hives has decreased from 6 million in the 1940’s to about 2.5 million today. Wild pollinators such as some species of bumblebees are also in serious decline. The reasons for these declines include exposure to parasites and pesticides, loss of floral abundance and diversity due to changes in land use, and habitat destruction which limits nesting sites for wild pollinators.
The good news is that there are many well-described practices that farmers and other landowners can take to support pollinator health. This web site includes a collection of links to information that is relevant to pollinator health in agricultural settings in Vermont and the region.
The education and applied research provided by this program are primarily funded through grants and gifts, and we welcome your support.
"Do You Know Your 5?" Pollinator Support Factsheet Series (PSFS)
There are more than 350 species of wild bees in Vermont and each of the following factsheets spotlights the five bees which are most important to pollination of these fruits or vegetables. Each factsheet explains pollination factors, habitat, and species identification. By identifying and understanding the natural history of these bees, you can provide the specific habitat that will help to ensure resilient and abundant pollination, and the tasty treats that result from the bee/plant relationship.
Apple (PSFS-001, PDF)
Blueberry (PSFS-002, PDF)
Bramble (PSFS-003, PDF)
Ground Cherry and Tomatillo (PSFS-004, PDF)
Squash (PSFS-005, PDF)
Stone Fruit (PSFS-006, PDF)
Strawberry (PSFS-007, PDF)
The “Do You Know Your 5?” factsheet series is a project of the Vermont Pollinator Working Group, with funding from the Gund Institute’s Apis Fund (https://www.uvm.edu/gund/apis-fund).
Farming Practices to Support Pollinators
General
- Conserving Native Bees on Farmland - Michigan State University Extension
- Cover Cropping for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects - SARE
- Creating Pollinator Habitat to Help Northeast Farmers Adapt to Climate Change
- Data sheet for monitoring pollinators in crops - UVM Extension
- Managing Legume Cover Crops to Optimize Pollinators - UVM Extension
- Promote Pollinators in Agricultural Landscapes - Minnesota Dept. Agriculture
- Protecting Wild Bees with Commercial Bumble Bee Queen Excluders - UVM Extension
- Technical Guide for Preserving and Creating Habitat for Pollinators on Ontariio's Farms
- Vegetable Pollinator Stewardship Guide - Michigan State Univ.
Agroforestry
Apples
- Michigan Apple Pollination fact sheet - project ICP
- Wild Pollinators of Eastern Apple Orchards and How to Conserve Them - Cornell Univ.
Blueberries
- Bee Pollination in Vermont Highbush Blueberries - UVM Extension
- Pollinators in Vermont Blueberries - Univ. of Vermont
- Using Commercial Bumble Bees for Highbush Blueberry Pollination - UVM Extension
- Vermont Blueberry Pollination fact sheet - project ICP
Gardens
- Homestead Pollinator Habitat Enhancement Planning - Jane Sorensen
- Pollination in Vegetable Gardens and Backyard Fruit - Michigan State Univ. Extension
- Pollinator Plants for Northern New England Gardens - Univ. of New Hampshire Extension
- Vermont Pollinator Plants - annual and perennial flowers and trees with descriptions - Jane Sorenson
Pasture and Hay
- Developng a Bee-Friendly Pasture System - Univ. of Vermont
- Flowering Legumes for Horse, Pollinator, and Perennial Pasture Health
- Lessons Learned: Planning Pastures for Pollinator Habitat - Oregon Tilth
Pumpkins and Squash
Identifying Wild Pollinators
- Bees of Vermont - Center for Ecosystem Studies
- Guide to Wild Bees of New York - Paula Sharp & Ross Eastman
- Guide to Minnesota Bumble Bees: Females - University of Minnesota Extension
- Native Bees, Solitary Bees, and Wild Bees:What are they? - University of Minnesota Bee Lab
- Ohio Bee Identification Guide - Ohio State University Extension
- Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers - University of New Hampshire
- Wisconsin Bee Identification Guide - University of Wisconsin Extension
Managing Pesticide Use to Protect Pollinators
- Best Management Practices to Protect Bees from Pesticides - Univ. of California
- Comparative Overview of Organic Pesticides - Xerces Society
- Minimizing Pesticide Risk to Bees in Fruit Crops - Michigan State Univ. Extension
- Residual Time to 25% Bee Mortality - US EPA
- Vermont Pesticide Rules-Protection of Bees and Pollinators Section 5.04 FAQs
Organizations Working to Protect Pollinators
Pollinator Habitat
Pollinator Research
- Bees and their Habitats in Four New England States
- Decision-Making Guide for Bee Supplementation of Pumpkin Fields
- Enhancing Nectar Production with...Alsike and White Clover in Vermont Hay Fields
- Modeling the Status, Trends, and Impacts of Wild Bee Abundance in the United States
- Mulch Effects on Floral Resources and Fruit Production of Squash, and on Pollination and Nesting by Squash Bees
- Pollinators in Vermont Blueberries
- Potential Influence of Bumble Bee Visitation on Foraging Behaviors and Assemblages of Honey Bees on Squash Flowers in Highland Agricultural Ecosystems
- Soil Properties and Biochemical Composition of Ground-dwelling Bee Nests in Agricultural Settings
- To Mow or to Mow Less: Lawn mowing frequency affects bee abundance and diversity in suburban yards
- Using a Hazard Quotient to Evaluate Pesticide Residues Detected in Pollen Trapped from Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in Connecticut
- Wild Bees as Winners and Losers: Relative Impacts of Landscape Composition, Quality, and Climate [Northeast region]
- Wild Bee Visitation Rates Exceed Pollination Thresholds in Commercial Curcubita Agroecosystems
Events and Projects
See the winter 2024 VVBGA / UVM Extension webinar series
Click here to make a donation in support of the program. Thank You!
For more information about this program, contact:
Laura Johnson, UVM Extension Pollinator Support Specialist
Vern Grubinger, UVM Extension Vegetable and Berry Specialist
The Vermont Bee Lab provides free diagnostic testing for Vermont honey beekeepers. Available diagnostic tests include Nosema and Varroa mites. To learn how to submit samples of potentially infected hives or deadouts for Nosema or Varroa mites, please visit the Vermont Bee Lab website.
The State of Vermont Apiary Program works to ensure that Vermont honey beekeepers comply with the Chapter 172 Inspection of Apiaries and supports Vermont's honey beekeeping industry through education, outreach and promotion, with a focus on honeybee disease and pest mitigation. For intormation email AGR.bees@vermont.gov or call the state Apiary Inspector and Pollinator Health Specialist, Brooke Decker at 802-272-6688.
The Vermont Beekeepers Association promotes the general welfare of Vermont's Honey Industry, while sustaining a friendly body of unity among the state's beekeepers. This non-profit organization supports the community of honey beekeepers of all levels and offers many learning opportunities for beekeepers among other services to support beekeeping in Vermont. See the association's website for details.