b'MEET THE ALKALI BEE, ALFALFAS FLOWER POWER POLLINATORAlkali bees (Nomia melanderi) are the unsung heroes of alfalfa seed production. Native to North America, these ground-nesting bees are tailor-made for the job of pollinating alfalfa. Heres what makes them so special:Natures Alfalfa SpecialistEfficient Pollinators: Unlike honeybees, alkali bees excel at tripping alfalfa flowers, triggering the release of pollen for seed production. This makes them crucial for high yields.Flower Power: Their ability to consistently trip flowers gives farmers up to 50% higher seed yields compared to regions relying solely on other pollinators.Unique Habitat NeedsGround-Nesters: Alkali bees create burrows in alkaline soils, laying eggs and storing pollen underground.Salty Soil: They thrive in soils with added salt, a unique requirement that farmers mimic with specially preparedAlkali bee emerges from a bee bed.PHOTO COURTESY OF DOUG WALSH. bee beds. In North America, were coming out of a long supply of Moisture is Key: Subsurface irrigationinventory and alfalfa seed production is starting to ramp up keeps their nesting sites moist,again, DLF vice president of field production Doug Gross says. replicating desert-like conditions. Alkali bee lands on a daisy.The estimates Ive seen are that 2025 will see a five to 10% PHOTO COURTESY OF DOUG WALSH. A Seasonal Workforce increase.Short Lifespan: Female bees work hard during their six-week lifespan in earlyIn 2023, DLF acquired Corteva Agrisciences global alfalfa summer, mating, nesting, and raising the next generation. germplasm and breeding program, including the companys Hi-Salt salinity tolerant alfalfa, which DLF alfalfa breeder Steve Timing is Critical: Their emergence is perfectly synced with the alfalfa bloom,Damon says may be suited perfectly for growers who rely on ensuring maximum pollination efficiency. alkali bees. Why Farmers Love Them Our alfalfa breeding efforts prioritize drought and saline tol-Cost-Effective and Sustainable: These native bees dont need to be purchasederance, and the Walla Walla area may be one of the best places in the world to do this research. We have a key research facility or transported like leafcutter bees. Instead, farmers invest in maintaining theirand team located in Touchet, Damon says. Our goals include habitats for a sustainable partnership. pushing alfalfa to be productive in difficult environments where A Valuable Investment: They are literally part of the family, says farmer Markmany other crops are unable to thrive. Wagoner. Farmers know that taking care of alkali bees means taking care ofThis production region is unique; all the conditions are per-their crops. fect for a very reliable alfalfa seed crop. The climate, soil, water supply and pollination support are ideal for alfalfa seed, Gross Challenges to Survival says. Sensitive to Environment: Alkali bees depend on precise conditions, includingIn the end, the success of Walla Wallas alfalfa seed growers soil moisture and temperature. Drought or poor habitat maintenance cancomes down to a partnership as old as agriculture itselfwork-threaten their populations. ing in harmony with nature. The alkali bees, nurtured and pro-Safe Spraying Practices: Farmers in Walla Walla have adopted nighttimetected by generations of farmers, are not just pollinators; theyre a cornerstone of the regions resilience. spraying and pollinator-friendly pesticides to protect these crucial insects. It just works really well this way, Wagoner says. We didnt Alkali bees are more than pollinatorstheyre a living symbol of the harmonyhave a single drop of rain from the third of June to about the between agriculture and nature.20th of September this last year. And that was perfect weather for the bees and perfect weather for the seed.SW28/ SEEDWORLD.COMFEBRUARY 2025'