FEBRUARY 2019 SEEDWORLD.COM / 13 TIP to sleep, and get back out and spray most of the night.” Night vision technology is relatively new to the industry, although Perrin says night spraying has been done for many years using lights. However, with the humidity in the Midwest, the night vision goggles are a must to extend the spraying hours. “Like any industry, technology is important as we increase our stewardship efforts and learn more about what we can do to protect pollinators,” he says. Those technology advances are not limited to just equipment. The chemistry behind new products has also improved in recent years. “A lot of the newer products we spray are considered safe for pollinators,” he says, adding that he sees more products labeled for use in both organic and con- ventional products. Perrin also says that technology has allowed products to be applied more evenly, which means a lot less product is actually used than in years past. Communication Is Key One tool that helps with communication is FieldWatch, a non-profit company that provides easily accessible mapping tools to increase communication and awareness between producers of specialty crops, beekeepers and pesticide applicators. Perrin certainly values that option, but says it has limits, too. “Not all the commercial beekeepers use that tool, because they are protective of where they keep their hives, so it’s not the only thing to check,” he says. In addition to programs such as FieldWatch, Perrin says he’s seen a lot of progress in how different groups commu- nicate. He believes it’s a simple, neigh- borly thing to do, even without a growing concern for pollinator stewardship. “Just go introduce yourself to your neighbors. If you see hives, find out who manages them and be sure to commu- nicate that information to any custom applicators you work with,” he says. “Years ago, I did see a lot of differ- ent groups butting heads, but now, for the most part, everyone is trying to work together. “We have daily communication with beekeepers near where we’re working, and more conversations with farmers. Honestly, a lot of these issues can be worked through with some simple com- munication, and it’s good to see that hap- pening more and more.” Best Practices Following best practices during appli- cation to minimize spray drift is also an important step toward stewardship. On the applicator side, that means continuing to spray during the bees’ off times, even at night, and ensuring equip- ment is always working properly. “Some things need to be sprayed at night or when it’s below 55 degrees, because that’s when the pollinators are least likely to be out,” Perrin says. “And we are constantly monitoring the spray nozzles to ensure the flow per minute is where it should be. If there is a problem, we can address it immediately.” He also says mentoring is impor- tant for new applicators to ensure they develop the skills and stewardship aware- ness necessary. Savinelli says establishing a buffer where necessary to prevent aerial drift can be helpful, as well as always checking for weather and wind patterns during planting or times of pesticide application. Steps for Success Starting the year with stewardship sets the tone for a successful, safer year for everyone. “There are a lot of resources and pro- grams for information as the year pro- gresses,” Savinelli says. The dust is the main concern with treated seed, and a great deal of work has been done to mitigate that as research and technology improve. “We know a lot more than we did several years ago, and we can give better recommendations based on our scientific research,” Savinelli says. That’s another reason to keep reading those seed tags and product labels, even if you read them last year, and the year before, and the year before. “Science is always evolving and we’re continuing to make products safer and better. That’s the important thing,” Savinelli says. Perrin adds: “It’s worth it for the bees. We all need to do what we can.” SW It’simperativethatasanindustrywetakeaproactiveapproachinprotecting pollinators.operationpollinator.com “We spent $57,000 per airplane to equip them to be able to fly at night, and a lot of our spray schedule is dictated by the bees’ foraging habits …” —Jim Perrin As pollinator and integrated pest management stewardship lead for Syngenta, Caydee Savinelli says now is the time to think about pollinator and pesticide stewardship.