Leopold Center partners with Xerces Society for pollination workshop

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AMES, Iowa-- Bees and wasps might not be the first thing that Iowans think about when it comes to agriculture and wildlife, however, declining populations of these important pollinators have captured attention across the country.

“Pollinators play an essential ecological role,” says Jeri Neal, who works with the Ecology Initiative at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. “One in three mouthfuls of all the food we eat relies on invertebrate pollination.”

A one-day workshop about pollinators will be offered at Reiman Gardens in Ames on August 10. Sponsors are the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and the Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture is a cooperating partner. The Xerces Society focuses its efforts on invertebrates (organisms that do not have a backbone such as insects, crustaceans and jellyfish) and has received a grant from the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE) program to offer similar workshops throughout the United States.

The short course will educate conservationists, land managers, farm educators and agricultural professionals on how to increase crop security and protect pollinators at the same time. “Everyone can play a proactive role in encouraging pollinators,” says Neal.

Introductory topics such as pollinator biology, economics of insect pollination, recognizing native bee species, and assessing pollinator habitat will be covered. Advanced topics like farm management practices for pollinator protection, habitat enhancements, incorporating pollinator conservation into NRCS programs also will be available.

The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Registration is free for the first 30 registrants, and $25 per person thereafter. For more information, go to the event website.

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The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/07-08-2010/leopold-center-partners-xerces-society-pollination-workshop-0 on 01/21/2013