By Blake Jackson
University of Missouri Extension is launching a Master Pollinator Steward program to address the significant decline in pollinators due to habitat loss.
The five-week program will educate participants on how to protect and support these vital creatures, including bees, butterflies, insects, bats, and birds.
Pollinators are crucial for fruit and vegetable production through pollination, and they also contribute to healthy ecosystems by stabilizing soils, supporting wildlife, and improving air quality, according to MU Extension horticulture specialist Tamra Reall.
The program is a collaborative effort, developed with input from beekeepers, MU Extension Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, and partner organizations like the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Reall explained that the statewide presentations will be held virtually, complemented by local, in-person field sessions and tours. MU Extension specialists will be available during the virtual sessions to provide materials and answer participant questions.
The first virtual session is scheduled for Monday, May 5, from 9:30 a.m. to noon via Zoom, and the program will run until June 16. For those unable to attend live, all sessions will be recorded and made available to registered students.
This course offers advanced training credits for Extension Master Gardeners and Missouri Master Naturalists. Additionally, it has been certified by the Great Plains Master Beekeeping program for specific learning objectives related to beekeeping.
The program will be accessible at seven locations across Missouri: northwestern Missouri, and Jackson, Adair, Boone, Cole, Henry, and St. Louis counties. Individuals residing outside these areas are welcome to join the Kansas City section.
The program features a team of presenters, including Tamra Reall, Emily Althoff, Travis Harper, Dan Getman, Kelly McGowan, Robert Pierce, Tim Reinbott, Terryl Woods, and Patrick Byers.
The presentation schedule includes the following topics: May 5, insects; May 12, plant-pollinator interactions; May 19, native bees and other pollinators; June 2, honeybees; June 9, pollinators in nature and agriculture (Part 1); and June 16, pollinators in nature and agriculture (Part 2).
Interested individuals can register for the Master Pollinator Steward program at https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/master-pollinator-steward/events.
Photo Credit: istock-kerem-hanci
Categories: Missouri, General