Pesticides are a leading cause of recent pollinator declines. While conservation efforts often focus on creating and managing habitat, it is equally crucial to protect these resources from contamination to ensure their lasting benefits. This two part training equips NRCS staff and partners with the background and practical tools needed to reduce pesticide risks in field crop settings.

On day 1 Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation staff, Karin Jokela and Mia Park, will provide a general overview of pollinators, habitat value, pesticide risk, as well as prevention and mitigation options, as described in Agronomy Technical Note 9. On day 2, University of Minnesota Extension educators Claire LaCanne, Anthony Hanson, and Liz Stahl will examine the local risks that pest management in field crops poses to pollinators and their habitats, and explore practical risk mitigation strategies. Claire, Anthony, and Liz have collective expertise in Integrated Pest Management, entomology, beneficial insects, honey bee keeping, pesticide safety education, cover cropping, and general crop production.