Project Apis m.

Forage

Project Apis m., in conjunction with the California State Beekeeper's Association (CSBA), have joined forces to encourage, educate and enlist land owners and managers to produce food resources for honey bees. Specifically, floral diversity prior to and after almond bloom in California for the nearly 1.6 million colonies that are brought to the state to pollinate the almond crop. Just like humans, honey bees are better able to deal with stressors if properly nourished. With proper nutrition, bees can fend off pests and parasites and cope with pesticides and transportation stress. Forage plots in Glenn, Colusa, Stanislaus and Kern counties have been set in motion. Working with land manager cooperators, PAm has established acreage, seed mixes, seed suppliers, and planting regimes.

ATTENTION: A CALL TO ACTION!

CALIFORNIA LANDOWNERS, LANDMANAGERS & GROWERS

Project Apis m. is working to build a sustainable honey bee supply for pollination services in CA. This can be done through floral diversity. Would you like to help us develop bee forage? Are you interested in providing nutrition for over-wintering bees in California? PAm will provide the seed, if you plant it. We provide seed mixes that have a low-moisture requirement. Sow seeds in early Fall (Sept.) to take advantage of the winter rains.

Contact Meg Ribotto or Christi Heintz at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you meet the following criteria:

1.) You are interested in helping develop bee forage

2.) You are a grower or landowner who is willing to take receipt of, and plant, the seed

3.) You plan to plant forage in a location which will be accessible to over-wintering colonies

4.) Your planted forage will be availble to colonies pollinating CA's specialty crops, including almonds

5.) You are willing to provide Project Apis m. with:

- the location of this area (county, directions, road, intersection, GPS coordinates, map to location)

- access to the planting site for inspection

- planting date, method of planting

- brief evaluation of the success of the planting

- arial or on-ground photo documentation of planting

The August 16, 2012 Western Farm Press has published an article 'Almond Growers Play Part In Pollinator Health' highlighting PAm's forage field trials in California. To read the article click here.

What are the benefits to farmers, orchardists, landowners and landmangers to plant honey bee forage? Click here to view the PDF.

View a map of California's Counties - Click here

Click on the sites below to see the current forage demonstration plots in California.

1.) Glenn County - Click here

2.) Colusa County - Click here

3.) Stanislaus County - Click here

4.) Kern County - Click here

How to Change the Landscape with Bee Pastures...........Click here

"Bee Smart" App - Click here

Forage Links - Click here

"I shall be content if because of me there shall be better fruits and fairer flowers."

- Luther Burbank

Flower Picks for California

Project Apis m. has identified plants that are recommended to support pollinators. These seed mixes are nutritionally-complete, low-water-use and native to California.

Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla) - Click here

Bicolor Lupine (Lupinus bicolor) - Click here

California Bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) - Click here

Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menzeisii) - Click here

Five Spot (Nemophila maculata) - Click here

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) - Click here

"The California Bee Times" - California State Beekeepers Association (CSBA)

Articles are written and submitted by Meg Ribotto, PAm Education and Outreach Coordinator and Christi Heintz, PAm Executive Director

Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Update - Winter 2012 - Click here

Speciality Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Update - Fall 2012 - Click here

Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Update - Summer 2012 - Click here

Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Update - Spring 2012 - Click here