Pollination work continues in Washington

IR-4, the USDA-funded organization which helps provide EPA with data supporting registration of chemicals for horticulture and other specialty crops, worked with the chemical industry to host a conference on research needs.  

Several leading horticultural scientists, along with SAF and AmericanHort generated productive dialogue around research needed to answer important questions about the industry’s impact on pollinators and provide solutions.

 

The industry task force guiding the Bee and Pollinator Stewardship Initiative launched by SAF, AmericanHort, the Horticultural Research Initiative and the American Floral Endowment met in a second, day-long meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss research priorities, stewardship practices, partnerships with other groups and public relations efforts. 

 

The Initiative has identified an initial research agenda focused on managing pests associated with commonly sold plants from which bees and other pollinators are likely to gather pollen and nectar.

 

Growers were asked to participate in a survey designed to assess the importance of pesticides in plant production last summer.  That survey report, along with another important report designed to show the importance of neonicotinoids in controlling the silverleaf whitefly and other invasive pests in international trade, can be accessed at http://growingmatters.org/studies/.

 

For more information, contact Lin Schmale at lschmale@safnow.org.