Almond Board of California (ABC) and Pollinator Partnership are proud to announce the alignment of ABC's California Almond Sustainability Program (CASP) and Pollinator Partnership's Friendly Agriculture (BFF) program to promote the importance of providing pollinators nutritional forage. To further support almond growers in planting pollinator habitat, the Almond Board is simultaneously launching its Bee + Grant, through which it will provide free cover crop seeds to 100 almond growers through the Seeds for Bees program of the Apis Project m. The scholarship will also cover the cost for producers to register for the BFF program.

The alignment of the CASP and BFF program and the Bee + Grant are expanded in a commitment made in the Pollinator Protection Plan, announced in January, to promote the health and biodiversity of pollinators by encouraging almond growers to provide habitat for pollinators in or near your orchards.

“Protecting and improving the health of honey bees, not only during the short time that the bees are in our gardens, but throughout the year, is essential for the success of each almond producer. By working with national organizations such as the Pollinator Partnership and Project Apis m., We are expanding our focus to all pollinators, viewing worklands as part of biodiversity ecosystems, "said Josette Lewis, Chief Scientific Officer of the Almond Board, Ph .D. " Responsible farming is at the heart of what the California almond community does. The ABC Bee + grant and the alignment between CASP and BFF allow us to increase our support for growers, as they remain committed to growing almonds in a better, safer and healthier way, adding biodiversity to their farms and improving results. for pollinators. "

Funds provided by the ABC Bee + Grant will allow growers to plant approximately 3,500 acres of quality pollinating forage throughout the state, in addition to the Apis m cover crop seed project. it is typically distributed directly to almond growers through its Seeds for Bees program each year. Currently, more than half of the almond growers participating in ABC's California Almond Sustainability Program report that they allow native cover crops to grow in their orchards. This grant will help convert more of these native cover crops into quality pollinating forage.

Associations work to better serve pollinators, the almond industry

By aligning the CASP and BFF programs, almond growers who complete CASP assessments specifically focused on bee health and pest management, and who meet certain BFF criteria, will qualify to register for the BFF program and obtain Bee Friendly certification. This certification will allow producers and their processors to use the Bee Friendly Farming logo on their product, and producers will be publicly recognized on the Pollinator Partnership website as a "Bee Friendly Farm" in addition to receiving a metal sign. BFF to display on your property.

The criteria to obtain the Bee Friendly certification are the following:

• Provide fodder for cover crops in or near orchards

• Provide flowering of different flowering plants during the growing season

• Offer clean water for pollinators.

• Provide habitat for nesting through hedges, natural scrub, and more

• Practice integrated pest management

"The Pollinator Partnership's Friendly Agriculture program is a perfect conduit to increase pollinator profits and ensure protection and sustainability within the almond industry. Almond growers are excellent partners in best management practices, and We look forward to a close and growing relationship in support of pollinators and producers, "said Laurie Adams, President and CEO of the Pollinator Partnership.

Because the alignment of the CASP and BFF program focuses on providing nutritional forage to complement the diets of native pollinators in addition to honey bees, the decision to launch the Bee + Grant and encourage increased forage planting among producers was a Natural complement to the industry's broader health initiatives for pollinators.