Project Overview
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
Proposal 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 will investigate 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 will determine if they pollinate a target crop by ID’ing the pollen in their brood provisions and comparing it to crop pollen samples. Additionally, we will test these bees' propensity to being managed for agriculture by evaluating their nesting success and estimating material and labor costs to maintain populations. Together these strategies will, 1) Identify which bee-crop pairings show potential for future development, and 2) Compose recommendations for cost-effective management strategies.
We will use targeted outreach to connect farmers with our research, including: university extension publications, short YouTube videos/tutorials, social media promotion, and presentations at grower meetings. We will partner 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.
This final outcome of this project will be to, 3) Publish on the management potential of these mason bees in berry crop systems in a peer-reviewed journal.
Project objectives from proposal:
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 2 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.