There's growing concern about the habitat available for critical pollinating insects. Many of the activities undertaken in the country and in town work to remove the plants pollinators rely on for food and reproduction. One company, Grassland Oregon, is offering a way to take on two challenges at once —produce a healthy pasture and promote pollinator habitat.

Grassland Oregon, long known for its national work on cover crop seed mixes, has come up with a Pastures for Pollinators seed mix designed to support both cattle and key insects. Risa DeMasi, co-founder of Grassland Oregon and immediate past chairman of the American Seed Trade Association, announced the new product and noted that proceeds from sales of the seed mix will be donated to further sustainable ag research programs.

Said DeMasi: "With over 400 million acres of pastureland in the U.S., we felt it was vital to develop a forage solution that would promote pollinator habitats, while also helping farmers and ranchers to feed their livestock and sustain their soil resources."

Monarch butterflies, moths and bee colonies have been affected by pollinator habitat loss, which the company points out is a serious economic and environmental issue. Native bees contribute more than $9 billion to the U.S. economy by pollinating crops, while managed hives contribute more than $15 billion.

Over the past five decades the number of bee colonies has decreased by half, and the cost of beehive rentals for farmers has tripled. Meanwhile, monarch butterfly migrations have declined from 550 million in 2004 to 33 million in 2013.

Pastures for Pollinators seed mix is available, and orders — or donations to help increase and sustain the pollinator population — can be placed at pasturesforpollinators.com.

To learn more about Grassland Oregon and its work in cover crop, turf and forage seeds, visit grasslandoregon.com.

Source: Grassland Oregon