jul-aug-2020

Partnerships Work to Best Serve Pollinators, Almond Industry With the alignment of the CASP and BFF programs, almond growers who complete the Pest Management and Bee Health and Pollination modules in CASP, and who meet certain BFF criteria, will qualify to register for the BFF program and become Bee Friendly certified. This certification will allow growers to use the Bee Friendly Farming logo on their product, and growers will be publicly recognized on Pollinator Partnership’s website 5 as being a “Bee Friendly Farm” — in addition to receiving a BFF metal sign to display on their property. The criteria to become Bee Friendly certified 6 are as follows: •Provide cover crop forage in or near orchards. •Provide bloom of different flowering plants throughout the growing season. •Offer clean water for pollinators. •Provide habitat for nesting via hedgerows, natural brush and more. •Practice integrated pest management. “Pollinator Partnership's Bee Friendly Farming program is a perfect conduit to increase pollinator benefits and to ensure protection and sustainability within the almond industry. Almond growers are terrific partners in best management practices, and we look forward to a close and growing relationship in support of pollinators and producers,” said Laurie Adams, As almond growers, we have a commitment to our land, to our environment and to the health of honey bees because we wouldn't exist without them,” said Christine Gemperle, Blue Diamond almond grower and Bee Friendly Farming participant. ³ Billy Synk. Director of Pollination Services. Project Apis m. Nov. 2019. Represents total plantings from 2013-present. 4 California Almond Sustainability Program, Dec. 2019. 5 www.pollinator.org/bff/map 6 Learn more about the BFF program in this video produced by ABC: “Become a Bee Friendly Farmer” – youtu.be/gtxh55ZQiOI 41 J U L Y – A U G U S T 2 0 2 0