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Wisconsin to develop pollinator protection plan

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers are working on the development of a pollinator protection plan in Wisconsin. The goal is to improve understanding of factors affecting pollinator health, increase communication among stakeholders and identify voluntary actions state residents can take.

The first of three stakeholder meetings will be held August 12^th at the Arlington Ag Research Station. (10 am – 2:30 pm) It will be a forum for discussion among invited stakeholders including representatives of agriculture, business, environmental groups, the University of Wisconsin and state, federal and tribal governments. There will be a brief comment period for the general public at this meeting but the main public comment period will be in November when a draft of the plan has been written.

Wisconsin Ag Secretary Ben Brancel says pollinators play an important role in the state’s agriculture especially for alfalfa, fruits and vegetables. “Pollinators are a matter of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs in Wisconsin.”