Improving Honey Production and Pollinator Sustainability Through Strategic Native Plant Establishment at Hickman Legacy Farms

Commodities

Practices

The proposed solution to the problem of inconsistent nectar flow, limited honey production, and insufficient natural pest control at Hickman Legacy Farms is to design, establish, and evaluate a system of native pollinator plantings and beneficial insect habitats that provide continuous floral resources and refuges for predatory insects throughout the growing season. This project will focus on measurable improvements to honey production, hive health, plant diversity, and beneficial insect activity while generating practical guidance for farmers and beekeepers across the Southeast.

The solution centers on creating strategically located, succession-blooming native plant strips and plots across approximately half an acre of the farm. These plantings will be designed to serve two complementary functions: (1) to increase nectar and pollen availability for honeybees, and (2) to provide essential habitat for native beneficial insects-such as lady beetles, lacewings, parasitic wasps, and predatory flies-that naturally suppress crop pests. By addressing both forage scarcity and ecological pest control, the project moves the farm toward a more sustainable, resilient production system consistent with Southern SARE's priorities.

Specific and Measurable Components of the Solution

The project includes four measurable components:

1. Improving Nectar Flow for Honey Production:
   Native species will be selected to create a continuous bloom sequence from early spring (March) through late summer (September). By tracking hive weight gain, brood patterns, honey yield, and pollen diversity, the project will measure the direct impact of improved forage availability on honey production across two seasons. Honey yields (lbs/hive) will serve as a key quantifiable outcome, compared to baseline data collected in Year 1.

2. Increasing Beneficial Insect Presence:
   The project will monitor the abundance and diversity of beneficial insects using standardized transect surveys conducted twice per month during the growing season. The goal is to document increased activity of predatory and parasitic insects responsible for biological pest suppression. Findings will provide insight into whether establishing native habitat refuges reduces reliance on chemical pest management-an important component of sustainable agriculture.

3. Enhancing Plant Diversity and Habitat Quality:
   Plant survival rates, bloom density, and species performance will be documented monthly to determine which native species and mixes are most reliable for maintaining continuous floral resources. This data will inform best-practice recommendations for other small farms seeking to integrate pollinator and beneficial insect habitats.

4. Evaluating Economic Viability:
   The project will generate cost-benefit insights by comparing the expenses of establishing and maintaining native forage habitats with the economic return from increased honey production and reduced pest pressure. This analysis will help determine whether native habitat establishment is a financially feasible strategy for small farms.

Together, these measurable outcomes ensure the project is scientifically meaningful, realistic within the 24-month timeline, and aligned with the purpose of SARE Producer Grants-to support on-farm research that strengthens agricultural sustainability.

How the Proposed Solution Leads to a More Sustainable Outcome

The proposed solution contributes to sustainable agriculture across multiple dimensions defined by the 1990 Farm Bill:

1. Environmental Quality and Natural Resource Enhancement

By establishing native plant species, the project supports soil health, increases biodiversity, and provides essential habitats for pollinators and beneficial insects. Natives require fewer inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and irrigation, and are adapted to local environmental conditions. In contrast to conventional agricultural practices that may rely heavily on mowing, chemical inputs, or monoculture systems, the proposed habitat design enhances ecosystem services and reduces the need for external inputs.

2. Efficient Use of Nonrenewable and On-Farm Resources

Beneficial insects are a form of natural pest control that reduces dependence on chemical pesticides. Creating refuges for these insects allows them to remain on the farm throughout the year, increasing their effectiveness against pests as they appear. Likewise, improving nectar availability reduces the need for supplemental sugar feeding of honeybee colonies. Both outcomes decrease reliance on nonrenewable off-farm inputs and align with SARE's vision for resource-efficient farming systems.

3. Economic Viability of the Farm Operation

Improved honey production directly supports farm profitability. Reliable nectar sources help colonies achieve peak honey-producing conditions, and increasing beneficial insect populations may reduce crop losses and labor costs associated with pest management. By evaluating the financial return of habitat installations, the project provides a practical model that other farmers can adopt, contributing to long-term farm viability.

4. Enhanced Quality of Life for Farmers and the Community

Healthy pollinator populations benefit not only the participating farm but also surrounding agricultural operations by improving pollination rates for fruit, vegetable, and seed crops. The project's outreach activities-including field days, planting guides, and Extension presentations-support broader community education and foster collaborative knowledge-sharing among local farmers, beekeepers, educators, and conservation groups.

Relevance to Southern SARE Program Objectives

This proposal directly supports Southern SARE's goal of developing and expanding sustainable agriculture systems through:

• Research-Based Innovation:
  Testing native plant combinations and habitat designs to determine their impact on honey production, ecosystem health, and pest suppression.

• Sustainable System Integration:
  Combining pollinator forage enhancement with beneficial insect refuges creates a holistic, ecologically grounded system rather than a single-practice fix.

• Knowledge Transfer and Outreach:
  Field days, educational guides, planting maps, social media updates, and presentations ensure results extend beyond the project site to the wider farming community.

• Practical, Replicable Results:
  The project is intentionally designed to be low-cost, low-input, and scalable to small farms-making the findings useful to farmers throughout the Southern region.

Realistic, Achievable, and Aligned with the Grant Scope

The project is achievable within the 24-month timeframe, uses readily available native plant materials, and relies on established research methods (hive weighing, transect surveys, bloom monitoring). Cooperators from Cooperative Extension, native plant specialists, and local beekeepers will ensure scientific validity and practical implementation. All data collected will directly address the research question, produce actionable insights, and support the sustainable evolution of the farm.

Project Site

The research will be conducted at Hickman Legacy Farms, a small diversified farm in the Southeastern North Carolina town of Bolivia, is currently undergoing ecological restoration. The apiary consists of multiple honeybee colonies placed adjacent to open fields and naturalized areas. The designated research area includes approximately 2.66 acres where native plantings will be installed in strips and small plots surrounding the apiary. The site receives full sun, has sandy-loam soil typical of the region, and has enough surrounding open space to accommodate transect surveys for native pollinators and beneficial insects.

While the larger farm is managed for crops and pollinator habitat, only the specifically designated research plots and the hives monitored for this project will be included in data collection to ensure experimental clarity.

Research Design and Methodology

The project follows a before-and-after comparative design with two full growing seasons. Year 1 includes baseline data collection and planting establishment; Year 2 includes full monitoring and outcome evaluation. This design allows for practical comparisons between pre-intervention conditions and post-intervention results.

Intervention Design: Installing Native Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Habitat

The research intervention involves selecting, planting, and evaluating native flowering species that provide nectar, pollen, and habitat for both honeybees and beneficial insects. Species will be selected for:

• • Continuous bloom periods from March to September

  • Known attractiveness to honeybees and native pollinators

  • Support of predatory and parasitic insects (e.g., umbelliferous flowers for beneficial wasps)

  • Adaptability to Southeastern soil and climate conditions

Approximately 1,200 native plant plugs and diverse wildflower seed mixes will be planted in strips and blocks around the apiary. These plantings serve as the primary form of ecological enhancement.

Materials and Tools

The project will use the following tools and materials:

• Native plant plugs (bee balm, mountain mint, penstemon, goldenrod, asters, native clovers)

• Wildflower seed mixes for early-, mid-, and late-season blooms

• Soil testing kits, compost, lime, and amendments

• Digital hive scales and data loggers for hive weight monitoring

• Pollinator monitoring tools: insect nets, identification guides, collection containers, flags for marking transect start/end points

• Field supplies: mulch, landscape fabric, stakes, plant labels

• Data collection templates (digital spreadsheets, bloom calendars, hive monitoring logs)

These materials allow researchers to accurately track plant performance, hive health, nectar flow, and beneficial insect activity.

Data Collection Methods

Data will be collected in four primary categories: hive performance, plant performance, beneficial insect activity, and honey production.

1. Hive Performance Measurements

Hive performance will be assessed using:

• • Hive weight gain: measured via digital hive scales every two weeks

  • Brood pattern assessments: visual inspections every 4-6 weeks

  • Pollen diversity: periodic collection of pollen samples for visual comparison

  • Colony strength indicators: population size, queen performance, and signs of stress

These measurements will help determine whether improved forage availability results in stronger, more productive colonies.

2. Plant Performance Monitoring

Native plant success will be tracked monthly using:

• • Plant survival rates

  • Bloom density and timing

  • Species vigor

  • Coverage and spread (square footage)

This information will guide the evaluation of which species or mixes perform best in local conditions and maintain bloom during nectar-scarce periods.

3. Beneficial Insect and Native Pollinator Activity

Standardized 5-minute transect surveys will be performed twice per month in each research plot during peak daylight hours.

Insects will be counted and categorized into the following groups:

• • Honeybees

  • Bumblebees

  • Solitary bees

  • Butterflies

  • Hoverflies

  • Lady beetles

  • Lacewings

  • Parasitic wasps

  • Other beneficial predatory insects

These data evaluate whether the habitat provides effective refuges for beneficial insects and increases overall biodiversity.

4. Honey Production Data

Honey production will be measured at each seasonal extraction using:

• • Total honey yield per hive (lbs)

  • Extraction logs documenting hive origin and harvest date

  • Comparisons to prior-year yield (baseline)

This is one of the key measurable outcomes of the project.

Methods of Analysis

Data analysis will be conducted with support from cooperators experienced in agriculture and beekeeping research. The following methods will be used:

1. Quantitative Analysis

• • Hive weight data will be graphed to visualize nectar flow patterns over time and compared with bloom calendars.

  • Honey yield increases (in lbs) will be compared to baseline levels to determine the intervention's effectiveness.

  • Plant survival and bloom density will be analyzed to assess the reliability and success of each species.

  • Beneficial insect surveys will be summarized using frequency counts and diversity indices to determine which habitats support the greatest number of beneficial insects.

2. Qualitative Observations

Field notes regarding plant behavior, hive temperament, weather patterns, and unexpected events (e.g., drought, late frost) will supplement numeric data to provide context and insight.

3. Comparative Analysis

Where possible, data from a cooperating beekeeper's hive(s) without the native planting intervention will serve as an informal comparison group for honey yield and hive weight patterns.

4. Economic Feasibility Review

Costs of planting and maintaining native habitats will be compared to:

• • Increased honey revenue

  • Reduced need for supplemental feeding

  • Reduced pest-management interventions

This helps determine the financial viability of the habitat-enhancement approach.

Expected Evaluation of Results

The solution will be considered successful if the following measurable outcomes occur:

1. Honey production increases from baseline levels.

2. Hive weight and nectar flow improve, especially during known nectar gaps.

3. Beneficial insect activity increases as documented by transect surveys.

4. Native plants show strong survival and continuous bloom across the seasons.

5. Cost-benefit analysis demonstrates viability for small farms.

These outcomes will be synthesized into a final project report, planting guide, and outreach materials shared with local farmers, beekeepers, and Extension communities.