Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Conservation Short Course

Brooklyn, New York

March 1st, 2019
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM PST

SHORT COURSE TRAINING SKILLS AND OBJECTIVES

• Ability to identify ways of increasing and enhancing pollinator diversity on the land
• Knowledge of the current best management practices that minimize land-use impacts on pollinators
• Ability to identify bees and distinguish them from other insects
• Knowledge of the economics of insect-pollinated crops, and the effects of pollinator decline
• Knowledge of the current Farm Bill pollinator conservation provisions and how to implement those provisions through USDA programs such as WHIP, EQIP, CSP, and CRP
• Ability to assess pollinator habitat and to identify habitat deficiencies
• Ability to make recommendations to farmers and land managers that conserve pollinators (including subjects such as roadside management, tillage, pesticide use, burning, grazing, and cover cropping)
• Ability to design and implement habitat improvements, such as native plant restoration and nest site enhancements
• Ability to incorporate pollinators into land-management or policy decisions

Continuing Education Credits offered:

• Certified Crop Advisor Credits (Pending approval)
• The Wildlife Society Credits
  

COURSE AGENDA

Module 1:  Introduction to Native Pollinators and Beneficial Insects

• Value of pollinators to agriculture and natural ecosystems
• Native bees and crop pollination
• Status of pollinator populations and at-risk species
• Overview of beneficial insects--preadators and parasitoids--and conservation biological control

Break

Module 2:  Native Bee Biology, Diversity, and Habitat Needs

• Overview of native bee biology, diversity, and habitat needs
• Native bee diversity
• Case studies of native bees in apple and strawberry agriculture
• Impacts of pesticides on pollinators
• The Empire State Native Pollinator Survey

Lunch - Lunch is not provided, please plan on bringing a bagged lunch and refillable water bottle to the course.

Module 3:  Pollinator Habtiat Restoration and Management

• Conservation planning and design considerations for creating habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects
• Habitat installation procedures (with a focus on seeding wildflower habitat):  Site prep, planting methods, management during establisment period, maintenance, lessons learned, examples
• Other opportunities for improving pollinator habitat (hedgerows/tree and shrub planting, forest edge enhancements, buffers, cover crops, annual insectary plantings, and more)

Break

Module 4:  Case Studies From the Farm

• Farm/farmer case studies:  Examples of how enhancing habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects has multiple benefits for crop production and conservation, the economic value, and other lessons learned

Module 5:  NRCS Resources and Conservation Programs

• USDA conservation programs, technical and financial assistance
• Other resources for farmers

Wrap up and Course Evaluations

• Q&A and Additional Resources
• **Please complete and return course evaluation**

INSTRUCTORS

Kelly Gill – Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Northeast & Mid-Atlantic Region
Kelly is a Pollinator Conservation Specialist for The Xerces Society and a Partner Biologist with the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Kelly provides technical support for designing, installing, and managing habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects. Kelly’s responsibilities include writing site-specific conservation plans, with a focus on protecting and improving habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects, and benefits to other wildlife, and assisting NRCS staff with habitat planning for Farm Bill conservation programs. She has experience working in a variety of landscapes and habitat types. Kelly also develops technical guides on restoring and managing habitat and conducts training courses and educational programs. Kelly completed her Master’s Degree in Entomology at Iowa State University where she conducted field research to evaluate different plant communities for their use in conservation plantings and on development of best practices for conserving pollinators and beneficial insects in agricultural landscapes.

Maria van Dyke, M.S., Research & Outreach, Department of Entomology, Cornell University
Maria van Dyke is a plant and native bee ecologist focused on understanding the life histories of native bees in order to better provide them ideal habitats through conservation and restoration.  She comes with several years of habitat restoration experience in urban, agricultural and grassland ecosystems with a focus on native bee species conservation. Healthy native bee communities are heavily linked to the proximity of floral and nesting resources as well as their ability to deal with temperature and moisture in their nests. Bees are constantly making choices to this end. The pressures from pests, pathogens and land development in urban and rural landscapes are heavily impacting the choices bees and other pollinators have, and ultimately their health. Through outreach education she seeks to bridge the knowledge gap between research findings and the public, including policy makers, by increasing the understanding of native bee biology and ecology