Project Overview
Information Products
Commodities
- Fruits: berries (blueberries), berries (brambles), berries (other), berries (strawberries)
- Animals: bees
Practices
- Crop Production: beekeeping, high tunnels or hoop houses, pollination, pollinator health
- Education and Training: demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research
- Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity
- Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities, partnerships, quality of life, sustainability measures
Abstract:
Farmers struggle to achieve adequate pollination for many berry crops, possibly in part due to the heavy reliance on a single pollinator species: the honeybee. We propose the development of additional species of bees for managed pollination of berries. This will strengthen the sustainability of our food systems while supporting existing natural pollinator diversity, and the economic benefits derived will improve farmers' lives by increasing profits and easing burdens.
We investigated the application of 4 lesser studied mason bee species on berry farms, all with some potential for berry pollination either shown through pilot study results, or previous scientific literature. We determined if they pollinated a target crop by ID’ing the pollen in their brood provisions and comparing it to crop pollen samples. Additionally, we tested these bees' propensity to being managed for agriculture by evaluating their nesting success. Together these strategies helped us, 1) Identify which bee-crop pairings show potential for future development, and 2) Compose recommendations for cost-effective management strategies.
We used targeted outreach to connect farmers with our research, including: a university extension publication, a YouTube video/ research talk, grower-grower field days, and presentations at grower meetings. We partnered with bee conservation-focused organizations to promote these materials to reach their respective memberships of largely bee managers and farmers (Orchard Bee Association) and backyard gardeners and bee enthusiasts (Oregon Bee Atlas) to, 1) Improve producer and beekeeper knowledge about mason bee management and its benefits and 2) Distribute discoveries about mason bee pollination of berry crops.
The final outcome of this project is to, 3) Publish on the management potential of these mason bees in berry crop systems in a peer-reviewed journal. The manuscript for this publication was drafted after the 2025 field season and is currently in the editing and revising stage prior to submission.
Project objectives:
Research Objective 1: Investigate the aptitude of 4 mason bee species to be managed in commercial berry crop production using pollen ID.
Research Objective 2: Examine the nesting material preferences of 4 mason bee species to cost-effectively balance material attractiveness with management constraints.
Education Objective 1: Increase knowledge about mason bee management and its benefits among farmers and beekeepers by producing educational videos.
Education Objective 2: Distribute discoveries about berry pollination with mason bees to a broad audience of farmers, beekeepers, and backyard gardeners by publishing 2 factsheets.
Education Objective 3: Publish a peer-reviewed paper on the management potential of the 4 mason bees studied in berry crops.