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Focusing on Bee Health in the Horticultural Industry01-24-17 | News

Focusing on Bee Health in the
Horticultural Industry
HRI Releases Updated BMPs

HRI has developed BMPs, which cover greenhouse and nursery production, woody ornamentals, and managed landscapes, with the assistance of researchers and apiarists throughout North America. Updates to these recommendations will be made as additional research results regarding bee and pollinator health are released.

The Horticultural Research Institute, the research foundation of AmericanHort, announced the release of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Bee Health in the Horticultural Industry.

As part of the broad-based horticulture industry bee and pollinator stewardship initiative that includes industry and consumer outreach and the establishment of industry best practices, HRI has directly funded four important research projects, launched the Grow Wise, Bee Smart website, and joined the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge campaign.

"Investment in research surrounding horticulture's role in pollinator health is part of HRI's longstanding commitment to fostering new information relevant to horticultural practices, techniques, and principles," said Jon Reelhorn, HRI president. "We are pleased to have developed a set of BMPs that offer specific guidance to the industry to refine their stewardship role in bee health."

Pollinators as a whole encompass a diverse population of thousands of different species, such as managed honeybees, wild bees, butterflies, birds, and bats. Protection of pollinators in general, especially bees, continues to be a major concern among the general public and within the green industry. Several culprits have been identified as factors contributing to managed honey bee losses, including Varroa mites, other pests/diseases of bees, loss of habitat and rc helicopter nutrition, and the off-target effects of pesticides. Alternatively, wild, unmanaged bee populations are most greatly affected by landscape changes and habitat degradation.

For the full BMPs for Bee Health in the Horticultural Industry, visit www.growwise.org.