Episode Details

What better way to start Pollinator Week than to get the latest info on everything Pollinator from Kelly Rourke, Executive Director of Pollinator Partnership, and Miles Dakin, the Coordinator of Pollinator Partnership's Bee Friendly Farming program.

This week's program also marks the beginning or Beekeeping Today Podcast's FOURTH year! Our first program way back then was with members of the Pollinator Partnership organization and we're at it again with them. It's been a good relationship each year.

Kelly shares a lot of what this group is doing during the 15th year of Pollinator Week. She discusses the new poster, this year's t-shirt, how to get your Governor to produce a Proclamation Supporting Pollinator Week in your state, and this year's virtual congressional briefings from the group on the state of protecting pollinators, plus the announcements sent to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Administrator of EPA. They are also sponsoring a cookbook, an announcement page on their web page that viewers can post their local events on and several FB Live Events this week.

Miles discusses his role with the Bee Friendly Farming program, including what it takes to get certified as a BFF, how many BFF farms there are, and being a BFF Supporter that beekeepers can take advantage of. All of this for supporting native and honey bees, but all are also very good marketing tools for growers and sellers. The Poster this year is focused on BFF, with native plants, bees, flies, beetles and the habitat they need, including continuous blooms, pesticide responsibility and clean water.

Solar arrays are becoming pollinator friendly too, and supporting pollinator friendly planting under them is good for everybody, and a lot better to look at.

Learn more and better ways to help support pollinators with the Pollinator Partnership Group

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

• The Pollinator Partnership - https://www.pollinator.org
• Bee Better Farming - https://www.pollinator.org/bff
• P2 2021 Pollinator Poster - https://www.pollinator.org/shop/posters
• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast - https://www.honeybeeobscura.com

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Calling all craft food and drink makers! Entry period for the 12th annual Good Food Awards is open now thru June 30th, and we're accepting entries from 18 different categories of food and drink, including honey. Entries are $78 a piece to help cover logistics, and entrants can add on the option to receive judge feedback from the Blind Tasting in August for $15. Head over to goodfoodfdn.org for all the details and use code BEEKEEPING at checkout for $10 off. We look forward to seeing your entries soon!

• Click here for Submission Information
• Click here for Rules & Regulations
• Click here for Honey Category details

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educatio