To help address the pre- and post-bloom food challenge for bees migrating to the vast almond orchards of California’s Central Valley each year, Bayer CropScience is giving $100,000 to Project Apis m., a nonprofit organization dedicated to better bee health through its work with growers. Project Apis m. will use the funds to provide seed mixes to growers in California and Washington who have agreed to plant cover crops for honey bees before and after almond bloom and other key seasons. The project will help build a healthier bee population to support crop pollination nationwide as bee colonies are transported to other states for other growing seasons.
Project Apis m. will work with almond and other growers to get commitments for cover crops that will be planted in fall 2015. Bayer’s collaboration with Project Apis m. is a part of its commitment to protect and improve pollinator health.