Pollinators are a diverse group and include bees, hummingbirds, bats, butterflies, flies, and some beetles. Among all pollinators, bees are unique. While most pollinators sip nectar to fuel their flight, bees are among the few that actively collect large quantities of pollen, inadvertently transferring it from flower to flower as they gather food for themselves. Rich in protein, the pollen of many plant species serves as the principal food source for developing bee larvae. Most wild flowering plants are dependent on bees and other insects for pollination. These flowering plants, in turn, support countless animals, as well as ecosystem functions such as water filtration and soil nutrient retention. Maintaining bee biodiversity is crucial for long-term ecosystem health.
More than one-third of the world’s crop species, such as alfalfa seed, sunflower, and numerous fruits and vegetables, depend on bee pollination, an ecological service valued in North America at $20 billion a year. Many crops that require pollination depend on managed bees. However, wild bees also contribute significant pollination services. Pollination by a diversity of bees helps ensure the best fruit or seed set. Examples of bees:
- Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are generalist pollinators typically managed by beekeepers in transportable hives. Their large populations can be strategically moved to pollinate different crops as they bloom, making them the primary contributor to pollination services in U.S. agriculture.
- Bumble bees (Bombus species) who make great tomato and pepper pollinators thanks to their habit of buzzing the flower to shake pollen loose. Although most bumble bees are wild, commercial colonies can be purchased from specialized suppliers.
- Blue orchard bees (Osmia lignaria) are solitary and one of the first bees to emerge in spring. They can fly in chilly temperatures and are excellent pollinators of fruit trees like apples and cherries.
- Squash bees (Eucera pruinosa) are wild bees that seek out pumpkins, squash, and other cucurbits to the exclusion of all else, making them a superior pollinator for those plants.
In the U.S., beekeepers continue to experience high colony losses. At the same time, the amount of crop acreage requiring bee pollination is at an all-time high. The cereal grains that make up the largest part of our diets, such as corn, rice, and wheat, are wind-pollinated, but potential declines in pollination threaten the most nutritious—and arguably, most interesting—parts of our diet, like fruit, vegetables, and alfalfa for meat and dairy production.
Are you a specialty crop grower looking to learn more about the role pollinators play or support bee habitat?
Pollination on fruit and vegetable farms
Learn about the benefits of crop pollination and how to support bees on your farm at the University of Minnesota Extension website.
For in-depth information, download the technical guide "Supporting pollinators in agricultural landscapes: a technical guide for specialty crop growers in the U.S. Midwest," produced in collaboration with the Pollinator Partnership. This resource helps commercial growers of vegetables, fruits, and nuts manage pollinators and provide on-farm habitat.
Pollinator management plan
While drafting a formal pollinator management plan (PMP) isn’t required or regulated, it can be a helpful exercise to help you collect, organize, communicate and budget your pollinator goals and strategies. A simple PMP planning tool is available from the University of Minnesota. A PMP is a written document that outlines intentional strategies and best practices for managing and supporting pollinator populations at a site. PMPs are customized and site-specific, taking into account the needs of the agricultural and farming activity in balance with the requirements of target pollinators.
