ST. PAUL, Minn. – The
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) launched a new public awareness
campaign to protect pollinating insects in yards and gardens, along roadsides
and on farms.
Protect Minnesota
Pollinators is designed to help the public understand the importance of insect
pollinators, not only to our food chain, but also to a healthy environment
overall. Pollinator populations, including bees, butterflies, flies, wasps,
beetles, moths, etc., are threatened by significant stresses that include a
loss of habitat for nesting and foraging, pesticide use, parasites and disease,
and other factors.
“Insect pollinators are in
trouble and their populations are declining,” said Agriculture Commissioner
Dave Frederickson, who announced the campaign in the Agriculture/Horticulture
Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds today. “More than one third of all
plants or plant products that we consume are directly or indirectly dependent
on insects for pollination, and a decline in pollinators negatively affects us
all,” Frederickson said.
The MDA has developed Best
Management Practices (BMPs) which urge farmers, landowners and homeowners to
“look at our landscapes differently” by reducing negative impacts of
pesticides, improving existing landscapes and creating new habitat. BMPs have
been developed for yards and gardens, as well as agricultural landscapes; BMPs for roadsides are currently under development.
“It isn’t like Minnesotans
to not take action,” said Frederickson. “Whether you live in the city, on a
farm, or manage a roadside – we all have a part to play in protecting insect
pollinators.”
Over the twelve days of
the State Fair, attendees are invited to stop by the MDA booth in the Ag/Hort
building and make a Pollinator Promise to help protect pollinators through
their individual actions, and then share their stories through social media,
such as Twitter and Facebook, using #MNpollinatorhero to inspire others to take
action.
Possible pollinator
promise steps could include:
·
Plant more flowers in my yard or on my
balcony
·
Let early dandelions flower – they have
nectar!
·
Leave areas of my lawn un-mowed
·
Reduce pesticide use
·
Find pollinator protection info on
pesticide labels
·
Set out water bowls and birdbaths for
pollinators to drink
·
Let clover grow and flower
·
Start a beehive
·
Spread the word about pollinators – be a
#MNpollinatorhero!
