pollinators

The University of Idaho’s Department of Entomology is trying to use the insects to help grieving families in a unique way.

National Pollinator Week wrapped up Sunday, but before it did a pair of West Coast lawmakers introduced legislation aimed at saving one of the most iconic pollinators in the United States.  Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and California Representative Jimmy Panetta teamed up Friday to introduce the Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act, better known as the MONARCH Act.  The Dem...

New research from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service sheds light on the causes behind the catastrophic honeybee colony losses reported by commercial beekeepers this year.  The findings point to an alarmingly high level of viral infections caused by Varroa mites that have resistant genes to a common treatment.    “Our ...

Nearly $760,000 in federal funds are coming to three western states, including Oregon, to help boost monarch butterfly populations.  U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley said the funding will benefit two projects in Oregon.   “One is to restore acres and make them better pollinator habitats, and also better acres for the monarch itself, which involves - you gotta make sure you’ve got some milkweed in there;

Last week, senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced a total of $758,810 in funding for two projects that will work to increase and improve pollinator habitats in Oregon.  The funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund is part of $5.2 million in na...

A proposed “Pollinator Paradise” license plate appears well on its way to becoming reality, thanks to the efforts of Oregon State University.  The proposal has created a lot of buzz across the state, as pre-sale vouchers are flying off shelves; and the “Pollinator Paradise'' plate could soon be available at a DMV near you.  OSU Associate Professor o...

For the first time since 2017, the USDA has tracked the business of pollinators.   In 2022, paid pollinated acres increased by 5.4% for cherries, but decreased for apple (10.3%), peaches (48.3%) and pears (3.4%).  The price per acre increased 35.6% for apples ...

The USDA granted a conditional license for a vaccine to protect the country’s honeybees from foulbrood disease.  Earth.com said the bacterial infection weakens and kills honeybee colonies and has no treatment.  The vaccine was developed by Dalan Animal Health and brings hope for a weapon against a disease that regularly ravages colonies that are highly important to food pollination.   In parts of

In December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched the Center for Pollinator Conservation, to address the decline of pollinator populations.  Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley also recently secured funding for western Monarch Butterfly conservation.   “...

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is spending nearly $560,000 on efforts to improve habitats for the Monarch Butterfly in Oregon and California.    “Protecting monarch butterflies is an urgent issue that requires sustainable solutions,” said Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, who secured additional western monarch conservation funding as Chairman of the Interior, Environment & Related Agenci