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Landowners encouraged to support pollinators

A horticulture educator with the University of Illinois Extension says it’s concerning that many species of pollinators are in decline.

Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle says we rely on a wide variety of pollinator species.

“One out of every three bites of food that we eat needs a pollinator to do that pollination process so that we get those really beautiful crops.”  She says, “When we think about pollinators, it’s things like bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, wasps, and flies.”

She tells Brownfield any landowner can take simple steps to help support pollinators.

“Having at least three different kinds of flowers blooming on the landscape in each season, different forms and colors of flowers at a time.”  She says, “If you can do more, even better.”

Flowers-Kimmerle says ensuring adequate water and nesting habitat access can also boost local pollinator populations.

She says numerous additional resources can be found online during this National Pollinator Week (June 16-22).

AUDIO: Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle – U of I Extension