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SEPTEMBER 2015 SEEDWORLD.COM 21 actions they propose and are ready to address them. These actions could range from spraying pesticides to the number of federal dollars put toward increasing acreage of new habitat and forage. The plan is meant to be a long-term strategy DeMarchi says. While seed companies might not know exactly how the strategy is going to impact them many have already taken proactive measures to improve health and vitality of pollinators. A few of these efforts include increasing habitat communication and outreach initiatives and new part- nerships. Increasing Habitat Increasing the quality and quantity of habitat for pol- linators is also a major part of the national strategy. Habitat quality and quantity are central to the health of pollinator populations and ecosystems and the well-being of our society is dependent on these resources according to the strategy. The federal role on expanding and improving pollinator habitat will be through the large variety of facilities and acreages of land managed by the federal government and indi- rectly through the leadership role that federal agencies play in interactions with states localities the private sector and citizens. Caydee Savinelli pollinator and integrated pest management stewardship lead at Syngenta says there are two big things in the strategy that impact the seed industry increasing high-quality diverse forage for honeybees and other pollinators and increasing the monarch butterfly population. Savinelli who is an entomologist by training says monarchs and honeybees prefer much of the same forage. While monarchs love milkweed they also love other flowers so increasing habitat and forage is usu- ally beneficial for both she explains. Increasing forage and habitat is key for companies such as Syngenta and Bayer CropScience. We have to look at it from a holistic approach says Becky Langer Bayer CropScience North American bee care manager. Bayer has historically had strong research efforts in the areas of bee health and forage habitat. She says the national strategy offers a great road map for all stakeholders whether thats beekeepers scientists or consumers buying garden plants. One of Bayers initiatives to increase forage health is its Feed a Bee campaign. Langer explains that Feed a Bee focuses on consumers and landowners. The initiative has been popular. When Bayer started handing out seed packets to help promote its goal to plant 50 million flowers in a year it hit the mark in just five weeks. In addition the North American Bayer Bee Care Center hit 3000 visitors in its first week. Monarch butterflies cannot survive without milkweed as its the only food source for monarch caterpillars. President Obama is the first president to have a beehive located on the South Lawn of the White House. The honey is used in White House recipes.