By now most people realize what an important role that pollinators play in our nation's food supply. While over a third of our food supply is dependent on bee pollination (estimated at $18-27 billion dollars), nearly 90% of our wild plants need them. Unfortunately, 25% of domesticated bee populations have been lost since 1990 and many wild and native bees are faring even worse. The rusty patch bumble bee was recently added to the endangered species list, and predictions are that it will not be the last. Research has shown that native bees  pollinate apples, cherries, squash, watermelon, blueberries, cranberries and tomatoes much more effectively than honeybees and can make our domesticated bees more effective pollinators by forcing them to move between rows.

To help bring awareness to our producers and to help spread the world about native pollinators, the Letcher County Extension Service has offered monthly beekeeper meetings, helped form the Mountain Beekeepers Association, offers shared-use equipment for beekeepers, hosts tours for producers, offers workshops on native pollinators, has provided sample seed to producers for experimentation and established a pollinator habitat demonstration at our office. The public awareness campaign has attracted the attention of producers and the public alike, with many visitors coming to the office solely to see and photograph the demonstration. 

Participants have reported plans to expand pollinator habitats on their own land and have obtained supplies that would plant a combined 10 Acres of pollinator forage in the county.