THE BUZZ ABOUT SOYBEAN: IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH AND YIELD WITH WILDFLOWERS AND HONEY BEES

Can small modifications of current farm management strategies in the corn and soybean agroecosystem better support both ecosystem services provided by honey bees, wild pollinators and beneficial insects while also improving soil health in low-yielding field areas? This project proposes testing the effects of two changes in management practices: (1) planting nectar-rich soybean varieties to provide additional food resources for honey bees and beneficial insects, and (2) replacing low-yielding field areas with pollinator habitat to provide season-long resources for floral resources and improvements to soil health. The following supporting objectives will evaluate the potential benefits of these strategies and provide information that farmers, beekeepers, agricultural suppliers and government agencies can use to make management decisions.Objective 1. Supporting honey bees and beneficial insects through identification and planting of nectar-rich soybean varietiesObjective 2. Evaluating benefits for honey bees, beneficial insects and soil health by replacing low-productivity field areas with wildflower cover crops