34 / SEEDWORLD.COM JANUARY 2018 PROTECTINGPOLLINATORS ThisseriesissponsoredbyOperationPollinator, aSyngentaglobalinitiative. IT’S WINTERTIME ON the farm, when fields, and honey bee hives, are buried under snow and ice. But spring thaws are coming and it’s an important time for farm- ers and beekeepers to connect. “The planting of corn and soybeans can potentially impact the beekeepers because of the possibility for dust off of insecticides used in seed treatments, so it’s important for farmers to know where the hives are and communicate their planting plans ahead of time,” said Caydee Savinelli, pollinator and integrated pest management (IPM) stewardship lead at Syngenta. Despite the perception to the con- trary, interactions between farmers and beekeepers are actually overwhelmingly positive in most instances. “No farmer wakes up and says they want to kill bees today,” said Mike Smith, project director for the Conservation Technology Information Center (CITC), a public-private, non-profit partnership comprised of ag industry associations, conservation organizations and producers and supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other public enti- ties. The CITC is a member of the Honey Bee Health Coalition, which supports collaboration to improve the health of honey bees, specifically around produc- tion agriculture. Partnerships can be a challenge without the efforts of many who are working to create connections and foster relationships. “Farmers may not even know there are bees nearby that could be impacted, so it’s important we forge these connections and continue to encourage collaboration,” Smith said. “We assume the awareness is there, but it’s not always top of mind, so it’s important to have reminders during plant- ing season,” said Parry Klassen, executive director of the Coalition for Urban Rural Environmental Stewardship (CURES). Swapping jobs Most disagreements stem from a lack of understanding, which can be solved when farmers and beekeepers participate in job-swap days. Farmers and Beekeepers Plan, Communicate to Protect Bees. Melissa Shipman melissanshipman@gmail.com MAKINGCONNECTIONSFORPOLLINATORHEALTH “One of our main goals is to bring these groups together and let them explain their operations to the other party,” Smith said. Before participating in these job swaps, farmers may think beekeepers could just move their hives on spraying days. “But when we visit the hives and demonstrate they weigh more than 100 pounds and aren’t able to be moved Caydee Savinelli Mike Smith A bee on a coneflower. PHOTO: CAYDEE SAVINELLI