WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center
Puyallup , WA

November 19th, 2019
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM PST

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This full day workshop will focus on concepts around protecting and enhancing populations of pollinators, especially bees, in agricultural landscapes. The course will provide an overview of bee natural history and farm practices that support pollinators, such as protecting and creating habitat, modified horticultural practices, and advice on how to manage pests while protecting pollinators.

Registrants will receive the Xerces Society's Pollinator Conservation Toolkit which includes Xerces' book, Attracting Native Pollinators, as well as habitat management guidelines and relevant USDA-NRCS and extension publications.

Continuing Education Credits offered:

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

Course Agenda

Module 1:  Introduction and Importance of Pollinators

• Value of pollinators to agriculture and natural ecosystems
• Native bees and crop pollination
• Status of pollinator populations and at-risk species

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

• Overview of bee diversity
• Life history of solitary and social bees
• Nesting habitat
• Foraging habitat: pollen and nectar resources
  
• Impacts of pesticides on pollinators
  

Break

Module 3:  Natural Enemies (Beneficial Insects)

• Major natural enemies
• Food resources
• Shelter and overwintering habitat

Module 4: Farming for Pollinators and Natural Enemies

• The value of natural habitat and bee friendly plantings
• Habitat design considerations (floral resources, continuity of bloom, nesting sites, etc)
• Horticulture practices

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

Break

Module 5:  Pollinator Habitat Restoration and Management

• Conservation planning and design considerations for pollinator habitat
• Habitat installation procedures: site prep, planting methods, management during establishment period, maintenance, lessons learned, examples
• Long term habitat management

Module 6:  Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Habitat at April Joy Farm

• Overview of farm
• Habitat for Beneficial insects and pollinators on the farm
• Practical benefits/multiple benefits, pest control, crop pollination
  
• Successes, pitfalls and other lessons learned

Module 7:  USDA and Conservation District Programs

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

Wrap up, questions, and course evaluations

• **Please complete and return course evaluation**

Instructors

Eric Lee-Mader, Pollinator Program Co-Director, The Xerces Society
As Pollinator Program Co-Director, Eric manages staff focused on large-scale habitat restoration, conservation biocontrol, native seed research and development, and outreach to farmers, private businesses, and government agencies. His professional background includes commercial beekeeping, native seed production, and consulting for various specialty crop industries. Eric was previously Assistant Professor of Extension at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Entomology and is the author of a book on how to manage bees for the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Eric regularly provides on-the-ground technical support to the NRCS and other conservation agencies. He is the lead author of numerous publications, including Farming with Native Beneficial Insects and Attracting Native Pollinators.

Corin Pease, Pollinator Conservation Planner, Pacific Northwest, The Xerces Society
Corin provides technical assistance to growers and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Planners on pollinator and natural enemy conservation on farms in the Pacific Northwest. He holds a masters degree in integrated pest management and a bachelors degree in environmental biology from the University of California–Davis. Corin’s experience spans agriculture, entomology, and integrated pest management (IPM). As a researcher, Corin has studied insects associated with native hedgerows, conservation biological control, and pest management in tomatoes, grapes, almonds, and strawberries in California. Before coming to Xerces, Corin was a crop consultant in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, advising berry growers on pest management and crop nutrition.

Guest Speakers

April Thatcher, Owner, April Joy Farm
April Jones Thatcher is the founder and farmer of April Joy Farm, a first generation, diversified crop and livestock farm near Ridgefield, WA. Her WSDA certified organic and Animal Welfare Approved farm has served wholesale and retail customers in Clark County since 2009. As a NRCS conservation stewardship program participant, April is taking a unique approach to integrating pollinator habitat on the farm by establishing pollinator strips distributed throughout vegetable production fields. She has observed multiple crop production benefits from the 0.4 acres of habitat she has established composed of 40+ plant species. April has an undergraduate degree in civil engineering and an M.B.A. in entrepreneurship. She is passionate about nurturing community and soil health, is a past recipient of Clark County's Make Every Day Earth Day Award, and has been a panelist and guest speaker at regional agricultural conferences. In 2017 she received a multi-year grant to study soil health and a second grant to install a static aerated compost structure at her farm.

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