By Tom Dayton
Pecan farmers are going nuts for pollinators to attract pollinators and ladybugs that devour aphids due to some of the pecan farmers have been planting wild flowers.
Aphids are the common enemy and can ruin an entire crop and normally are controlled by an array of pesticides and many of which are harmful to Monarch Butterflies and honey bees.
The Environmental Defense Fund is partnering with farmers to reduce or eliminate pesticides to save pollinators.
Ben King planted 275 acres of new trees and included wild flowers that hosted pollinators, ladybugs and lacewings that were happy to devour the destructive aphids. The results were greater than expected as farmer King did not have to spray even once and presented his findings to a state almond board meeting.
Now farmers of other nut crops have contacted the EDF for information about cover crops with wildflowers. The EDF has also been instrumental in getting farmers to plant a corridor of milkweed that the Monarchs can feed on during their journey northward.
A 3 million dollar state fund helps farmers set up the blooming cover crops and corridors of milkweed to accelerate the comeback of pollinators.
Farmers not only do themselves a favor with encouraging pollinators but the additional predators of aphids has cut or eliminated the need for costly chemicals and the labor needed to apply them thus saving farmers time and money.
There is also the possibility that the farmers using no pesticides can get their nut crops certified as organic and even charge a higher price.
No doubt farming is changing in every sector and none too soon.