Technical Note No.78, August 2008 1
Using Farm Bill Programs for
Pollinator Conservation
Introduction
More than 30 percent of our food relies on insect pol-
lination, which is overwhelmingly provided by bees.
The annual value of crops pollinated by wild, native
bees in the United States is estimated at $3 billion.
Native bees have declined due to habitat loss and the
careless use of pesticides, among other factors. At the
same time, managed colonies of European honey bees
have suffered a 50 percent decline in recent decades
and face immediate threats from invasive diseases,
pests, and a mysterious ailment called Colony Collapse
Disorder.
Recent research has shown that wild native bees,
which number more than 4,000 species in North Amer-
ica, can contribute substantially to crop pollination
on farms where their habitat needs are met (fig. 1). In
some cases like squash production in New Jersey, na-
tive bees can provide 100 percent of necessary pollina-
tion. As hives of European honey bees become scarcer
and more expensive, restoring native pollinators
becomes ever more important. And while individual
native bee species are susceptible to particular pests, a
diverse community of many species has been shown to
provide consistent pollination services since declines
are buffered by other species that are flourishing.
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008,
otherwise known as the Farm Bill, authorizes the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to undertake a
broad range of incentive-based conservation programs
on agricultural land (table 1). Many of these programs
rely on conservation practices that can be used to cre-
ate or improve pollinator habitat. Previous USDA rule-
making established the promotion and conservation of
pollinator habitat as a Conservation Security Program
goal and a priority for the Conservation Reserve Pro-
gram’s State Acres for Wildlife (SAFE) practice. New
language in the 2008 Farm Bill makes pollinators and
their habitat a priority for every USDA land manager
and conservationist. The new Farm Bill authorizes
special consideration when determining payments for
practices that promote pollinator habitat during En-
vironmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) imple-
mentation. It requires that native and managed pollina-
tors be considered during the review or development
of Farm Bill conservation practice standards. Most
important of all, the new Farm Bill authorizes the Sec-
retary of Agriculture to encourage “the development
of habitat for native and managed pollinators; and the
use of conservation practices that encourage native
and managed pollinators” during administration of any
conservation program. Congress has recognized that
pollinators are a crucial part of the healthy landscape
panorama, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) participation will be vital to this effort.
Fortunately, the NRCS already offers many opportu-
nities to conserve and create habitat for pollinators
using existing programs and practices. NRCS conser-
vation practices that address habitat needs for native
bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, flies,
Figure 1 Leaf-cutter and mason bees in the genus Osmia
are among the most important native crop pol-
linators. (Photo by Mace Vaughan, The Xerces
Society for Invertebrate Conservation)
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Program Purpose Land eligibility Type of assistance
Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program
(CREP)
Land retirement program that helps agricul-
tural producers protect environmentally sensi-
tive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife
habitat, and safeguard ground and surface wa-
ter. An offshoot of the Conservation Reserve
Program, CREP emphasizes partnerships
among State, Tribal, or local governments,
private groups, and the USDA.
Lands that address an agriculture-related en-
vironmental issue of State or National signifi-
cance such as impacts to water supplies, loss of
critical habitat for threatened and endangered
wildlife species, soil erosion, and reduced habi-
tat for fish populations such as salmon. Enroll-
ment in a State is limited to specific geographic
areas and practices; about half the States have
CREP programs.
Annual payment plus cost-share of up to 50% of
the eligible costs to install the practice. CREP
contracts require a 10- to 15-year commitment
to keep lands out of agricultural production.
CREP is administered by FSA; NRCS provides
technical assistance. Contact NRCS or Farm
Services Agency (FSA) State or local office.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=hom
e&subject=copr&topic=cep
Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP)
Land retirement program encourages farmers
to convert highly erodible cropland or other
environmentally sensitive acreage to vegeta-
tive cover such as tame or native grasses,
wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or ripar-
ian buffers. Addresses issues raised by State,
regional, and National conservation initiatives.
Highly erodible land, wetland, streamside areas
in pasture land, certain other lands. Eligible
wetlands must have been cropped 3 of 10
previous years, highly erodible cropland 4 of
6 previous years. Pollinators are high priority
wildlife under CRP practice CP38 Safe Acres
for Wildlife Enhancement.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/
safe08.pdf
50% cost-share for establishing permanent
cover and conservation practices, and annual
rental payments for land enrolled in 10- to 15-
year contracts. Additional financial incentives
are available for some practices. CRP is
administered by FSA; NRCS provides technical
land eligibility determinations, conservation
planning, and practice implementation. Contact
NRCS or FSA State or local office.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=hom
e&subject=copr&topic=crp
Conservation Stewardship
Program (CSP) (formerly
Conservation Security
Program)
Addresses resource concerns comprehensive-
ly by 1) undertaking additional conservation
activities; and 2) improving, maintaining, and
managing existing conservation activities. The
CSP encourages farmers to broadly improve
their conservation effort to protect water and
air quality, improve soil quality, store carbon
in soils, add wildlife habitat, conserve water,
and save energy.
Private and Tribal agricultural land, and forest-
ed land incidental to agriculture. Land convert-
ed to cropland since 2008 is not eligible.
Annual payments based on expenses, foregone
income, and environmental benefits; 5-year
contracts renewable for another 5 years. Contact
NRCS State or local office.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp
Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP)
Promotes agricultural production and environ-
mental quality as compatible National goals by
helping eligible participants install or imple-
ment structural and management practices.
Land on which agricultural commodities, live-
stock, or forest-related products are produced.
Up to 75% cost-share for installed conservation
practices or 100% of foregone income; contracts
run 1 year past last practice installation, up to
10 years. Up to 3 years of incentive payments for
certain management practices. Special payment
consideration for practices that promote pollina-
tor habitat. Contact NRCS State or local office.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip
Table 1 Major Farm Bill conservation programs that can be used to promote pollinators on working lands. All programs are voluntary. Please see the NRCS Web site for more information (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/), and visit the USDA Service Center Locator to find USDA offices that administer these programs
(http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app).
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Program Purpose Land eligibility Type of assistance
Grassland Reserve
Program (GRP)
Help owners and operators protect graz-
ing uses and related conservation values by
restoring and conserving eligible land through
rental contracts, easements, and restoration
agreements.
Historical grassland used primarily for graz-
ing that has high conservation, ecological, or
archeological value.
50% cost-share for restoration; annual payment
up to 75% of the grazing value of the land for 10-,
15-, or 20-year rental contracts, or easement pay-
ments no greater than fair market value less the
encumbered grazing value for permanent ease-
ments or easements for the maximum duration
allowed under State law. GRP is jointly admin-
istered by NRCS, FSA, and U.S. Forest Service.
Contact NRCS or FSA State or local office.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/GRP
Wetland Reserve Program
(WRP)
Land retirement program to restore, protect,
or enhance wetlands on private or Tribal
lands.
Farmed wetland or wetland converted to
agriculture before 1985, together with function-
ally dependent adjacent land, or cropland or
grassland that was used for agricultural produc-
tion prior to natural flooding.
Private lands: 1) Permanent easement payment
equal to forgone value plus 100% of restoration
costs; or 2) 30-year easement payment (75% of
forgone value) plus 75% of restoration costs; or
3) restoration cost-share agreement (usually 10
years) with payment of 75% of restoration costs.
Tribal lands: restored through any combination
of 2 and 3. Contact NRCS State or local office.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp
Wildlife Habitat Incentive
Program (WHIP)
Develop wildlife habitat on private and Tribal
lands.
High-priority fish and wildlife habitats, espe-
cially habitat for declining species, otherwise
unfunded beneficial practices, or locally deter-
mined fish and wildlife priority habitats.
Up to 75% cost-share for conservation practices
under standard 5- to 10-year contracts, or higher
cost-share for a limited number of 15-year con-
tracts. Contact NRCS State or local office.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip
Table 1 Major Farm Bill conservation programs that can be used to promote pollinators on working lands. All programs are voluntary. Please see the NRCS Web site for more information (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/), and visit the USDA Service Center Locator to find USDA offices that administer these programs
(http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app).
4
Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation
Technical Note No. 78, August 2008
and hummingbirds, can have a great overall ecologi-
cal benefit, and improve balance sheets for growers of
adjacent insect-pollinated crops (fig. 2).
This technical note outlines opportunities within cur-
rent Farm Bill programs to implement pollinator con-
servation actions on the ground, especially what the
NRCS field conservationists can do at the local or field
level (Field-level opportunities). The field-level advice
primarily explores how current conservation practices
(e.g., Practice 340 —Cover Crop) can be used to benefit
pollinators. Secondly, this technical note identifies op-
portunities for NRCS State, area, basin, and watershed
offices to support conservation of crop-pollinating
native bees and provide and enhance pollinator habitat
during land or wildlife habitat improvement activities
(State-level opportunities). At the State level, support
for pollinators and their habitats includes developing
biology technology notes with State-appropriate plant
lists, conservation program enhancement job sheets,
and other guidance documents for field office conser-
vationists.
We specifically promote native bees because of their
economic importance for agriculture and their key-
stone role in the healthy and complex food webs that
support diverse wildlife. However, conservation prac-
tices implemented for native bees will also greatly ben-
efit an array of other pollinators and beneficial insects,
including managed and feral European honey bees,
butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, and the preda-
tors and parasites of crop pests. It is these insects that
feed wildlife either directly or by producing many of
the plant fruits that sustain birds and mammals and,
thereby, help hold natural systems together.
Field-level opportunities
Incorporating pollinators into current conser-
vation practices
Tables 2 and 3 provide details on how current con-
servation practices can be used to benefit pollina-
tors, particularly crop-pollinating native bees. Native
pollinator conservation practices provide natural or
seasonal habitat to: 1) increase the abundance of pol-
len and nectar while ensuring that plants are in flower
from early in the spring (e.g., willow) through late fall
(e.g., goldenrod); 2) add or protect potential nest sites;
and 3) provide a refuge from pesticides. Whenever
possible, conservationists should use native plants
since native pollinators and other wildlife are adapted
to them for food and shelter. Most of the conservation
practices outlined in table 2 allow field office planners
to include diverse flowering plants that provide se-
quential bloom throughout the growing season. Some
practices allow for creation or protection of nest sites,
such as snags or stable untilled ground for solitary
bees, or small cavities (usually created by rodents)
for bumble bees. Any practice that increases areas of
natural habitat that are not sprayed with pesticides
or implements buffers to reduce pesticide drift will
minimize harm to native pollinators. (See the Xerces
Society publication Farming for Bees: Guidelines for
Providing Native Bee Habitat on Farms for more
information.)
Table 2 lists conservation practices alphabetically and
describes the potential for each practice to supply or
improve habitat for pollinators. The pollinator notes
column describes pollinator habitat components that
can be provided by each practice and offers recom-
mendations for management practices that require
careful timing of management activities (e.g., mowing
or fire) to benefit or reduce harm to pollinators. Table
3 presents the general habitat requirements of pollina-
tors and lists the conservation practices that can be
used to supply these requirements.
Figure 2 Creation of hedgerows at Butler Farm in Win-
ters, CA, will provide pollinator nest sites, ref-
uge, and forage. (Photo by Mace Vaughan, The
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation)
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Conservation practice (unit) Code Pollinator notes
Alley Cropping (acre) 311 Can include native trees, shrubs and vines (e.g., black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), Rubus spp., etc.) or row covers (e.g., various legumes) that provide nectar or pollen.
Note: Black locust should be used with care because it is invasive in certain habitats outside of its natural range.
Channel Bank Vegetation (acre) 322 Can include diverse flowering trees, shrubs, vines, and forbs. Channel banks provide a unique opportunity to supply early-flowering willow and, in dry areas, late flowering native forbs (e.g., goldenrod (Solidago spp.)). These stable areas
of habitat also may support solitary bee ground-nests where the soil surface is accessible, or bumble bees where vegeta-tion becomes dense or duff layers accumulate.
Conservation Cover (acre) 327 Can include diverse forbs (e.g., various legumes) to increase plant diversity and ensure flowers are in bloom for as long as possible, providing nectar and pollen throughout the season.
Conservation Crop Rotation (acre) 328 Cover crops used during conservation crop rotations can include forbs (e.g., various legumes, buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), phacelia (Phacelia spp.), etc.) that provide abundant forage for pollinators. Insecticides should not be applied to
these conservation covers. Moving insect-pollinated crops no more than 800 feet during the rotation may help maintain local populations of native bees that have become established because of a specific crop or conservation cover.
Constructed Wetland (acre) 656 Can include stable soil as nesting substrate in more upland areas, as well as plants that provide pollen and nectar for native bees and other pollinators. Possible plant genera with obligate or facultative wetland species include: Asclepias,
Bidens, Cephalanthus, Cornus, Crataegus, Epilobium, Eupatorium, Hibiscus, Hypericum, Iris, Juncus, Ledum, Lobelia, Ludwigia, Lysimachia, Mimulus, Ranunculus, Rhexia, Rhododendron, Ribes, Rosa, Rubus, Salix, Solidago,
Spiraea, and Vaccinium. Look for appropriate wetland plants for the region from these and other genera.
Contour Buffer Strips (acre) 332 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. In addition, mowing only every 2 or 3 years to benefit wildlife also will benefit nesting bumble bees. To protect bumble bee nests, mowing should occur
in the late fall when colonies have died for the year and queens are overwintering.
Cover Crop (acre) 340 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of cov-er crop plant species that come into bloom at different times and provide a sequence of bloom throughout the year. Some
examples include clover (Trifolium spp.), phacelia (Phacelia spp.), and buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.). Many “beneficial insect” cover crop blends include plant species that will also provide forage for pollinators.
Critical Area Planting (acre) 342 Can include flowering plant species that provide abundant pollen and nectar for native bees and other pollinators. Planted areas may support stable soil for ground-nesting solitary bees, or dense vegeta tion under which bumble bee
queens may hibernate or build nests.
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management (acre) 647 This management practice is important for maintaining open and sunny habitat for pollinators. Note: To minimize damage to pollinator populations, disturbance practices should be implemented only every 2 to 3
years in rotation and, ideally, on only 30% or less of the overall site. This allows for habitat heterogeneity and opportuni-ties for recoloni zation of non-treated habitat. For example, managers could mow or burn a small portion of the habitat
(less than 1/3 of the site each year or two) on a 3- to 6-year cycle. Alternatively, they could treat a fifth of the site each year, on a 5-year cycle. In addition, when possible, disturbance practices should be implemented when most pollinators
are inactive, such as from late fall to early spring. For details, see the Xerces Society publication Pollinators in Natural Areas: A Primer on Habitat Management.
Field Border (foot) 386 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Strive for a mix of forbs, vines, and shrubs that come into bloom at different times throughout the year. Site management (for example, mowing) should
occur in the late fall to minimize impacts on pollen and nectar sources used by pollinators. Alternatively, allowing field borders to become overgrown may provide nesting habitat for bumble bees, as well as abundant forage. Stable (untilled)
field borders may provide opportunities for solitary bees to nest in the soil.
Table 2 Conservation practices that can be used to create or enhance pollinator habitat
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Conservation practice (unit) Code Pollinator notes
Filter Strip (acre) 393 Can include legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of cover crop plant species that come into bloom at different times and provide a sequence of bloom throughout the year. Site manage-
ment (for example, mowing or burning) should occur in late fall to early spring to minimize impacts on pollinators.
Grassed Waterway (acre) 412 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. In dry regions, these sites may be able to support flowering forbs with higher water requirements and thus provide bloom later in the summer.
Hedgerow Planting (foot) 422 Can include forbs, vines, and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of plant spe-cies that come into bloom at different times and provide a sequence of bloom throughout the year. Bee nesting sites also
may be incorporated, including semi-bare ground or wooden block nests. Including strips of unmowed grasses and forbs along the edge of the hedgerow may provide nesting opportunities for bumble bees. This practice also can help reduce
the drift of pesticides into areas of pollinator habitat.
Herbaceous Wind Barriers (foot) 603 Can include diverse forbs and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of plant spe-cies that come into bloom at different times and provide a sequence of bloom throughout the year.
Multi-Story Cropping (acre) 379 Can include woody plants carefully chosen to supply pollen and nectar for pollinators. Look for mixes of plants that flower at different times throughout the growing season and can support populations of pollinators over time.
Pasture and Hay Planting (acre) 512 Can include diverse legumes (e.g., alfalfa) or other forbs that, when in bloom, provide pollen and nectar for native bees.
Pest Management (acre) 595 In general, implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for a crop reduces the use and impact of pest control chemi-cals on pollinators. In addition, plant species commonly used in IPM to support the beneficial insects that help manage
pests also can support bees. Examples of these plants include: phacelia (Phacelia spp.), sunflowers (Helianthus spp.), buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), and yarrow (Achillea spp.). Pest management practices also can include replacement of
invasive or exotic plant species with flowering native trees, shrubs, vines, legumes, or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Look for a diverse mix of plant species that come into bloom at different times and provide a
sequence of bloom throughout the year.
Prescribed Burning (acre) 338 Can greatly benefit pollinators by maintaining a diverse mix of open, early succes sional habitat in various stages of habi-tat maturity.
Note: It is best if: 1) only 30% or less of a site is burned at any one time to allow for recolonization by pollinators from adjacent habitat; 2) burning occurs only every 3 to 6 years; and 3) burning occurs when pollinators are least active, such
as when most plants have senesced or in the fall.
Prescribed Forestry (acre) 409 Can help maintain open understory and forest gaps that support diverse forbs and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. Standing dead trees may be kept or drilled with smooth 3- to 6-inch deep holes to provide nesting sites for
bees.
Prescribed Grazing (acre) 528 Can help maintain early successional habitat and its associated flowering plants. Ensure that grazing objectives include a diverse plant community that incorporates legumes, forbs, and appropriate flowering woody species to create floral and
structural diversity.
Range Planting (acre) 550 Can include diverse legumes, other forbs and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees.
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (acre) 329 Can protect bees that are nesting in the ground at the base of the plants they pollinate. Soil tillage digs up these nests (located 0.5 to 3 feet underground) or blocks emergence of new adult bees bred the proceeding year.
Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (acre) 643 Can be used to provide diverse locally grown native forage (forbs, shrubs, vines, and trees) and nesting resources for pol-linators. Many specialist pollinators that are closely tied to rare plants or habitats may significantly benefit from efforts to
protect rare habitat. In addition, certain rare plants require pollinators to reproduce. Note: Pollinator plants should only be planted if they were part of the rare ecosystem you are trying to restore.
Table 2 Conservation practices that can be used to create or enhance pollinator habitat—Continued
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Conservation practice (unit) Code Pollinator notes
Riparian Forest Buffer (acre) 391 Can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. The stable habitat may supply nest sites to solitary ground and wood-tunnel nesting bees, as well as bumble bees. This practice also can
help reduce drift of pesticides onto areas of pollinator habitat.
Riparian Herbaceous Cover (acre) 390 Can include diverse forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. In drier parts of the U.S., many of these forbs flower in the late summer and fall, when pollinator forage is needed most.
Silvopasture Establishment (acre) 381 If grazing intensity is low enough to allow for plants to flower, this practice can include legumes and other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for bees. Trees and shrubs that provide pollen and nectar also can be planted.
Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (acre) 395 Plants chosen for adjoining riparian areas can include trees, shrubs, and forbs that provide pollen and nectar for pollina-tors. Maximizing plant diversity along riparian corridors will result in more pollinators and other terrestrial insects to
feed fish in the streams.
Streambank and Shoreline Protec-tion (foot) 580 If vegetation is used for streambank protection, plants can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. Good candidates include willow (Salix spp.), dogwood (Cornus spp.), and goldenrod
(Solidago spp.).
Stripcropping (acre) 585 Can include diverse legumes or other forbs that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. If insect pollinated crops are grown, plants used in adjacent strips of vegetative cover may be carefully chosen to provide a complementary bloom
period to the crop, such that the flowers available in the field are extended over a longer period of time.
Tree/Shrub Establishment (acre) 612 Can include trees, shrubs, and vines especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. Woody plants with pithy stems (e.g., elderberry (Sambucus spp.), boxelder (Acer negundo), and raspberries (Rubus spp.) also may be cho-
sen to provide potential nest sites for solitary bees that nest in wood stems.
Upland Wildlife Habitat Manage-ment (acre) 645 Can include managing for pollinator forage or pollinator nest sites, such as including nest blocks or snags for solitary bees that nest in tunnels in wood, access to bare soil for ground-nesting solitary bees, and small mammal burrows or
overgrown grass cover for bumble bees. Note: Please see Early Successional Habitat Development/Management (647) and Prescribed Burning (338) for manage-
ment techniques that minimize the disruption of pollinator communities.
Vegetative Barriers (foot) 601 Can include plants that provide pollen and nectar for pollinators.
Wetland Enhancement (acre) 659 Wetland and adjacent upland can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pol-linators. Snags can be protected or nest blocks for bees erected.
Wetland Restoration (acre) 657 Wetland and adjacent upland can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pol-linators. Snags can be protected or nest blocks for bees erected.
Wetland Wildlife Habitat Manage-ment (acre) 644 Wetland and adjacent upland can include trees, shrubs, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pol-linators. Snags can be protected or nest blocks for bees erected.
Note: Please see Early Successional Habitat Development/Management (647) and Prescribed Burning (338) for manage-ment techniques that minimize the disruption of pollinator communities.
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establish-ment (foot) 380 Can include trees, shrubs, vines, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. Windbreaks and shelter belts are a good place to put nesting structures for native bees, and they can help reduce drift of insecticides
onto a site.
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation (foot) 650 Can include trees, shrubs, vines, and forbs especially chosen to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators. If appropriate, dead trees and snags may be kept or drilled with holes to provide nesting sites for bees.
Table 2 Conservation practices that can be used to create or enhance pollinator habitat—Continued
Note: Many FSA-sponsored CRP and CREP conservation practices are similar in name and intent, so the recommendations in this table can often be applied to them.
8
Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation
Technical Note No. 78, August 2008
Pollinator resource Code and conservation practice (unit)
Forage (diverse sources of pollen and nec-
tar that support pollinators from early in the
spring to late in the fall)
311—Alley Cropping (acre)
322—Channel Bank Vegetation (acre)
327—Conservation Cover (acre)
328—Conservation Crop Rotation (acre)
656—Constructed Wetland (acre)
332—Contour Buffer Strips (acre)
340—Cover Crop (acre)
342—Critical Area Planting (acre)
386—Field Border (foot)
393—Filter Strip (acre)
412—Grassed Waterway (acre)
422—Hedgerow Planting (foot)
603—Herbaceous Wind Barriers (foot)
379—Multi-Story Cropping (acre)
512—Pasture and Hay Planting (acre)
595—Pest Management (acre)
409—Prescribed Forestry (acre)
528—Prescribed Grazing (acre)
550—Range Planting (acre)
643—Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (acre)
391—Riparian Forest Buffer (acre)
390—Riparian Herbaceous Cover (acre)
381—Silvopasture Establishment (acre)
395—Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (acre)
580—Streambank and Shoreline Protection (foot)
585—Stripcropping (acre)
612—Tree/Shrub Establishment (acre)
645—Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)
601—Vegetative Barriers (foot)
659—Wetland Enhancement (acre)
657—Wetland Restoration (acre)
644—Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)
380—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (foot)
650—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation (foot)
Nest sites (stable ground, holes in wood,
cavities for bumble bees, or overwintering
sites for bumble bee queens)
322—Channel Bank Vegetation (acre)
656—Constructed Wetland (acre)
332—Contour Buffer Strips (acre)
342—Critical Area Planting (acre)
386—Field Border (foot)
422—Hedgerow Planting (foot)
409—Prescribed Forestry (acre)
329—Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (acre)
643—Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (acre)
391—Riparian Forest Buffer (acre)
612—Tree/Shrub Establishment (acre)
645—Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)
659—Wetland Enhancement (acre)
657—Wetland Restoration (acre)
644—Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)
380—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (foot)
650—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation (foot)
Table 3 Pollinator requirements and the conservation practices that can be used to provide them in the field
9Technical Note No. 78, August 2008
Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation
Pollinator resource Code and conservation practice (unit)
Pesticide protection (refuge from spray,
buffers to drift, etc.)
322—Channel Bank Vegetation (acre)
656—Constructed Wetland (acre)
342—Critical Area Planting (acre)
422—Hedgerow Planting (foot)
391—Riparian Forest Buffer (acre)
657—Wetland Restoration (acre)
380—Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (foot)
Site management for pollinators 647—Early Successional Habitat Development or Management (acre)
595—Pest Management (acre)
338—Prescribed Burning (acre)
409—Prescribed Forestry (acre)
528—Prescribed Grazing (acre)
643—Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (acre)
645—Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)
644—Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (acre)
Table 3 Pollinator requirements and the conservation practices that can be used to provide them in the field—Continued
State-level opportunities
Pollinator conservation biology technical
notes
Each State can develop pollinator conservation biol-
ogy tech ni cal notes to help field conserva tionists
promote pollinators in their conservation planning and
implementation. Ideally, the notes will:
• Emphasize the importance of leaving as much
land as possible in relatively natural condition
since many pollinators require this for successful
completion of their life cycles.
• Provide details on the native and nonnative
plants used by native bees (or other pollinators
such as butterflies) that could be included in
various conservation practices throughout the
State. Important information to include for each
plant is flowering period and suitable habitat
conditions for planting, as well as information on
seeding rates.
• Stress the importance of having many plant spe-
cies in bloom throughout the growing season.
In practice, this means providing at least three
blooming pollinator plants during spring, sum-
mer, and fall.
• Highlight the importance of nest sites for crop
pollinating native bees. These nest sites include:
– partially bare, well-drained ground for solitary
ground-nesting bees
– narrow tunnels in standing dead wood or
plants with pithy stems for solitary tunnel-
nesting bees
– small cavities, such as abandoned rodent bur-
rows or areas of overgrown, fallen grass for
bumble bees
Oregon, New Jersey, and Montana NRCS State Offices
have produced pollinator conservation biology techni-
cal notes, and others are in the making. The Xerces
Society drew from these sources and other technical
materials to create a template of a State technical
note. These documents and others referenced in State-
level opportunities are listed with Web locations in
table 4, as are complementary Fish and Wildlife Habi-
tat Management Leaflets produced by the Agricultural
Wildlife Conservation Center. These documents are also
available at the PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.
gov/pollinators/NRCSdocuments.html).
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Description or title Document type Scope Web location (if available)
Bats (PDF; 935 KB) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet U.S. http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=18509.wba
Butterflies (PDF; 2312 KB) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet U.S. http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=18479.wba
Conservation Cover: Wild-flower Meadow for Wildlife
and Pollinators 327a (PDF; 95 KB)
Conservation Practice Job Sheet Virginia http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/references/public/VA/327a_Cover_Crop_Wildflower_js_Final.pdf
County Irrigated Land Information MT 2008 (DOC;
79 KB)
Conservation Project Ranking Criteria Montana http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/eqip2008/irrigatedland2008.html
CSP Wildlife Enhancement Activity - Pollinator Areas
(PDF; 74 KB)
Conservation Security Program, Enhancement
Activity Job Sheet
Alabama ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/AL/tech/csp08/al_pollinator_areas.pdf
EQIP Ranking Instructions SD FY08 (DOC; 389 KB) Conservation Project Ranking Criteria South Dakota
EQIP Ranking Summary Sheet–NRCS MT Madison
County 2005 (PDF; 73 KB)
Conservation Project Ranking Criteria Montana
Factors Affecting Butterfly Use of Filter Strips in South-
west Minnesota (PDF; 1639 KB)
Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Leaflet Minnesota ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/WHMI/WEB/pdf/TechnicalLeaflets/Butterfly.pdf
Habitat Development for Pollinator Insects MT-20
(PDF; 47 KB)
Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note Montana ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/MT/www/technical/biology/Biology_Tech_Note_MT20_Rev3.pdf
Habitat Development for Pollinators NJ (PDF; 102
KB)
Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note New Jersey http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/documents/NJ_BIO_TECH_NOTE-Pollinators.pdf
Montana Native Plants for Pollinator-Friendly Plantings
(PDF; 1982 KB)
Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note Montana ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/MT/www/technical/plants/pollinator.pdf
Native Pollinators (PDF; 4730 KB) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet U.S. http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=18497.wba
NRCS Pollinator Tech Note TEMPLATE–Xerces (DOC;
649 KB)
Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note U.S.
Plant Management for Na-tive, Culturally Significant
Plants EPL40 (PDF; 67 KB)
Conservation Security Program, Enhancement
Activity Job Sheet
U.S. http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/Jobsheets/EPL40_Native_Culturally_Significant_Plants.pdf
Table 4 NRCS documents for pollinator conservation and enhancement
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Description or title Document type Scope Web location (if available)
Plant Management for Nec-tar Corridors EPL41 (PDF;
788 KB)
Conservation Security Program, Enhancement
Activity Job Sheet
U.S. http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/Jobsheets/EPL41_Nectar_Corridors.pdf
Plants for Pollinators in Or-egon PM 13 (PDF; 402 KB) Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note Oregon ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/OR/Technical_Notes/Plant%20Materials/PMC13.pdf
Plants for Pollinators in the Intermountain West PM 2
(PDF; 1405 KB)
Pollinator Conservation Biology Technical Note Intermountain West http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/idpmstn7641.pdf
Pollinator Ranking Form Final SD (XLS; 103 KB) Conservation Project Ranking Criteria South Dakota
Pollinators South Dakota Fact Sheet SD–FS–55 (PDF;
72 KB)
Pollinator Conservation Biology Fact Sheet South Dakota
Ruby-throated hummingbird (PDF; 416 KB) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet U.S. ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/WHMI/WEB/pdf/RUBYthroated1.pdf
WHIP Ranking Template Questions SD 2008 (PDF;
150 KB)
Conservation Project Ranking Criteria South Dakota ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/SD/win/Intranet/Bulletins/FY08_Bulletins/WHIP%20Instructions.pdf
Table 4 NRCS documents for pollinator conservation and enhancement
12
Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation
Technical Note No. 78, August 2008
Pollinator conservation job sheets
States can also develop pollinator conservation job
sheets. For example, Virginia has produced a Conser-
vation Cover job sheet on establishing and maintaining
wildflower meadows for wildlife and pollinators (fig.
3). This job sheet provides general criteria and specifi-
cations, details on site maintenance, lists of appropri-
ate plants, and tools for site planning.
Conservation project ranking criteria
States can include a line item that provides additional
points during scoring if proposed conservation proj-
ects address the flowering or nesting needs of pollina-
tors. In Montana, an EQIP or WHIP line item awards
20 additional points for projects that include sequen-
tially blooming pollinator-friendly plants. South Dako-
ta and California have also developed project ranking
criteria that support pollinators.
Conservation Security Program, pollinator
enhancements
The Conservation Security Program (CSP) includes
enhance ments that may be pulled into State programs
to conserve pollinators. Nectar Corridors (CSP En-
hancement Activity Job Sheet for Plant Management
EPL41) and Native, Culturally Significant Plants
(EPL40) both provide additional incentives for incor-
poration of pollinator habitat into CSP contracts. In
addition, an enhancement specifically for pollinator
habitat is available for the 2008 Conservation Security
Program sign-up. The Conservation Security Program
was replaced by the Conservation Stewardship Pro-
gram in May 2008, but, these enhancements will con-
tinue in similar form.
Other State opportunities
NRCS State programs can add pollinator habitat crite-
ria to their existing Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guides,
or develop specific documents that assess pollinator
habitat. They can also incorporate information on pol-
linators into their State vegetation guides.
Plant Materials Center assistance
Regional NRCS Plant Materials Centers (PMC) and
plant material specialists can develop field trials to test
individual plants or combinations of plant materials
with a native pollinator focus. The Corvallis PMC (Cor-
vallis, OR), Rose Lake PMC (East Lansing, MI), Lock-
eford PMC (Locke ford, CA), and the National PMC
(Beltsville, MD) are currently developing demonstra-
tion insectary plantings and recommendations for pol-
linator seeding mixes. PMC staff can work with States
to produce regional pollinator conservation biology
technical notes and other documents.
State office assistance
The NRCS Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center
and several private foundations funded the Xerces
Society to provide NRCS State Offices with technical
support to help implement pollinator conservation
measures. Please contact Mace Vaughan
(mace@xerces.org) if you are interested in this ser-
vice.
For more information about pollinator conservation
measures, please see the NRCS Ecological Sciences
Division publications (http://www.nrcs.usda.
gov/technical/ECS/database/technotes.html), or
visit the Xerces Society (http://www.xerces.org/
pollinator-conservation-agriculture/) or the Pollinator
Partnership (http://www.pollinator.org/).
Figure 3 Fire can be used in meadows, prairies, and sa-
vannahs to encourage forbs that feed and shelter
pollinators. (Photo by Jeff Vanaga, NRCS)plants.usda.gov/pollinators/Using_Farm_Bill_Programs_for_Pollinator_Conservation.pdf
