Ernst Conservation Seeds worked with Bayer CropScience to benefit pollinators

Ernst Conservation Seeds has become one of the partners with Bayer CropScience to support and improve pollinator habitat through the Feed a Bee program.Randy Ferguson, director of marketing and communications, is spearheading the efforts at Ernst with the partnership with Bayer CropScience.

 

 A 6,000-square-foot building that is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays to the public houses a museum and education center. It is surrounded by 2 acres of pollinator gardens.

 

The program began in 2015 with several goals: to plant 50 million flowers and to encourage 50 partners to join in the effort.The general public was offered seed packets of wild flowers to be planted in home gardens and other appropriate areas. To reach the 50 million flowers, 275,000 packets were prepared for distribution.

 

Through a distribution company all the packets were distributed within 11 weeks.The partners were companies and organizations that would plant 10 acres or more of pollinator-attracting seeds.

Farmers were encouraged to use the seed mix on buffer strips. 

 

By the end of the summer there were 69 partners, Ernst Conservation Seeds being just one.The public and scientific community’s concern over colony collapse prompted the work of the North American Bayer Bee Center.