News Feature                                                            6/28/2007

Sherburne County Pollinator Day

The Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District held a special ceremony in recognition of National Pollinator Week declared by USDA for June 24 – 30, 2007.  The event, located at the Sherburne History Center in Becker, Minnesota, acknowledged groups and individuals who assisted in creating the Living Pollinator Exhibit at the center. 

Pollination is a vital stage in the life cycle of all flowering plants.  The transfer of pollen is necessary for healthy and productive native and agricultural ecosystems.  In fact, about 75% of all flowering plant species need the help of pollinators such as insects, birds, bats and other animals to move their heavy pollen grains from plant to plant for fertilization.  The work of pollinators ensures full harvests of many agricultural crops and contributes to healthy plants everywhere.  Over 60% of our food supply is dependent on pollinators.  .Pollinators are often keystone species, meaning they are critical to ecosystem health and vitality. 

NRCS Assistant State Conservationist, Ann English, explained the role of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), working in partnership with other agencies, in preserving habitats to combat the decline of beneficial pollinators.  Realizing the importance of pollinators in today’s society, NRCS has stepped forward with programs that address the issue of pollination.  For example, NRCS has a pollinator incentive payment in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  NRCS provides a financial incentive of $20/acre/year to eligible landowners up to maximum of 120 acres per year over a 3 year period.  NRCS is continuing to work on ways in which technical assistance can be provided to improve the habitat for pollinator species.  In FY 2007, NRCS had a total of 28 EQIP contracts on a total of 245 acres in Minnesota. 

Several NRCS employees assisted in establishing the Living Pollinator Exhibit by planting trees and shrubs.  These employees include Ginger Kopp, State Staff Forester, Robin Martinek, State Agronomist, George Montgomery, DC Elk River, and Dwight Tober, Plant Materials Specialist, Bismarck, ND.  Sherburne County SWCD employees Gina Hugo and Bill Bronder led the effort in creating the Living Pollinator Exhibit.

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