b'If diversity keeps plummeting in general, it is going to impact our crops and wildland plants, because there may not be enough pollinators or the right species of pollinators available for pollination. Diane WilsonProtecting wild pollinators is essentialand rehabilitate and prevent fire damagethem, Hood says. It will be a little work in to maintaining our food supply, par- in the West, Wendell says. From a busi- the beginning, but for example, in a cost-ticularly as the global population swellsness and stewardship standpoint, every- share program, they are getting money and the demand for food continues toone cares about promoting habitat. back on non-productive land.increase. Farmers just need to be given theHood shares an example of an Iowa Bayer has been proactively workingtools to make it work, she says. Theyfarmer who established habitat that also to help growers understand that landneed to know how to prepare the ground,helps his soil quality, prevents runoff and can still be productive and while hostingwhat plants to plant, how to manage aimproves air quality around his farm while habitat. habitat plot, when insecticides can bealso bringing animals back to the prop-Were not asking growers to putapplied and what type. erty to preserve biodiversity. habitat in the middle of a corn field, saysWilson adds that if producers want toJust giving it a try is a start in finding says Aimee Hood, Regulatory Sciencehelp a specific endangered species, theyout there are real benefits. Finding the bal-Communications Lead with Bayer.just need to do a little research to find outance between growing crops and imple-Farmers can be very clever with non- what plants to utilize. menting conservation practices will be productive parts of their land by makingadvantageous in the long-term, Hood says.those areas habitat. What Harms Species? Seed companies do recognize that For grazing lands, farmers shouldAt times, consumers have not always per- there is a cost involved with conservation ensure they are using best land manage- ceived growers as being stewards of theefforts, Peterson adds.ment practices for native grasses. land. However, many growers will estab- We support our farmers, listen and There are so many things that can belish habitat as one way to help consumersseek to find understanding. The cost done, but there is only so much fundingsee the direct impact farmers have onconcern is absolutely a factor, she says. for any given conservation practice, saystheir local community. With our global perspective, if we had Peterson. Seed companies are com- Other farmers are actively involveda five to 10% increase in conservation, mitted to doing what we can to providein conservation programs such as thethat would be a lot of acres. Although we cutting edge tools to farmers and protectConservation Reserve Program (CRP).understand the costs, we still want to help the environment so we can achieve bothMost growers are good stewards, butfarmers be profitable.multiple objectives at once. its very important that the seed industryAnother obstacle can simply be the Seed companies are also helping thehelps people understand how to be goodtime needed to build the infrastructure to ESA in reviewing products through thestewards of their products, says Hood.better facilitate habitat establishment. For massive amount of data that they are ableHood cites the industry initiativeexample, wild plant species that provide to generate, according to Peterson. GrowingMatters.org as a great resourcesage grouse habitat can only be collected The better data you have, the betterto help farmers understand how toduring short windows in the fall, under decision you can make. You have to takeresponsibly use treated seed and pesti- harsh environmental conditions. It can the emotion out of the debatewhatcides while protecting habitat and ensur- take three to five years for companies like is more precious than our ecology anding minimal impact. Granite Seed to figure out how to grow environment? Peterson says. When itthose wild plant species to scale and of comes to science, there is always roomOvercoming Obstacles high enough seed quality and efficacy so for improvement; its not all or nothing. ItsThere are always going to be growersit will grow in different environments.about making progress where possible. who resist implementing these tactics.Our job is to rally around the direc-A way to help threatened speciesFor those who may be hesitant, Hoodtion were given to provide the material, includes rejuvenating areas affected bysuggests just trying it. but its a big investment, Wendell says. wildfires where there may not be humanIve seen farmers successfully estab- Its not easy to do, but thats our com-population, but is still important habitat. lish habitat and become addicted to it,mitment and sacrifice around protecting We want to help prevent watershedbecause they see the advantages it offershabitat that needs to be protected.SW12/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2019'