By Matt O'Neal
A recently published summary of over 15 years' worth of research reveals farmers can conserve pollinators at the edges and even inside corn and soybean fields. This conservation is in the form of prairie strips planted with native, perennial flowering plants. Prairie strips offer significant food and nesting habitat for pollinators (Photo 1).
Scientists at Iowa State University and the University of Illinois explain how the abundance and diversity of wild bees respond positively to prairie strips (Toth et al. 2026). All pollinators need flowering plants, especially in Iowa, where over 70% of the land is committed to corn and soybean production, which have limited value to most pollinators. Without flowers, bees and other pollinators lack the carbohydrates and protein to fuel them. This is especially true for honey bees (Photo 2), which convert nectar from many plants into the honey harvested by beekeepers. Prairie strips contain dozens of flowering species that provide flowers throughout the growing season. These plants provide nectar and pollen especially after soybeans and clover stop flowering. Landowners can enroll in the USDA prairie strip conservation practice (CP-43) to reduce soil erosion, capture excess nutrients, and provide wildlife habitat. Participation in this Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) helps cover some of the costs associated with establishing and maintaining prairie strips.
Source : iastate.edu