There is a great deal of concern that our honeybees do not have enough food to eat because of the amount of pesticides being used. However, most homeowners do not realize that their demand for pristine lawns and continuously flowering plants that have low to zero maintenance are a huge part of the problem. The lack of food not only effect honeybees but other pollinators such as butterflies. Are we sacrificing sources of food so that our yards can be free from the site of plants such as clover, and dandelions, etc? Even roadside maintenance poses an issue as wildflowers and other beneficial plants are mowed down for aesthetics. Is there anything we can really do to keep our yards looking nice and not take away food from pollinators? In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Dr. Vera Krischik about how we can help pollinators by practicing IPM (Integrated Pest Management) and take an active role in replenishing available food sources. Dr. Krischik is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Entomology at the U of Minnesota and an Extension Specialist in Landscape Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Stay tuned!

Dr Vera Krischik | honeybees | pollinators | pesticides | foraging