b'Alkali bees are ground nesters. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK WAGONERBEES IN BEDWITH ALFALFAThese tiny pollinators are perfect partners for success.By Melissa Shipman, Seed World U.S. ContributorWALLA WALLA COUNTYin Washington state produces a significant portion of the nations alfalfa seed, and thats partly thanks to the love farmers there have for their bees.They are literally part of the family. I grew up with them, says Mark Wagoner, a third generation farmer. We have about 30 acres of ground dedicated just to alkali bees. You cant buy them; you have to have them reproduce.The native bees are crucial because they support the pro-duction of one of the only crops that can thrive in such harsh summer growing conditions. About the only thing we can grow here is alfalfa seed. We rotate it with wheat and grow a little bit of seed peas, but we just cant grow crops that need water in the summer.Building Bee BedsIntentionally sourcing or managing bees for pollinator services is not unique. However, most crops rely on honeybee pollination, which isnt ideal for alfalfa seed. The fused lower petals of the flower form a boat-shaped structure around the reproductive organs called a keel and in order to reach the pollen, bees must pop open the flower. Alkali bees are skilled at performing this tripping action, while hon-eybees often learn to avoid it and forage nectar from the side without reaching the pollen. In the 1950s, Herman Menke, a professor at WSU, began studying the bees. While there are natural bee beds near the Walla Walla River, growers have been creating their own artificial habitats for over 75 years using underground pipes that provide subsurface water in the spring and early summer to keep the ground moist. Then, growers do something most farmers would never do; they add salt to the soil.Many growers have built bee beds on hillsides or other areas that wouldnt be suitable for farming. And due to the lack of rain-fall, runoff issues are not really a concern. In the Touchet and Gardena areas, they only get about 6 or 8 inches of rain a year at most and most of that is between November and April, says Doug Walsh, professor of entomol-ogy at Washington State University.24/ SEEDWORLD.COMFEBRUARY 2025'