Programs
The Manistee Conservation
District...Has compiled all the data from its 2011
Resource Assessment questionaire. The
Resource Assessment is done every five
years and contains both long term goals and to-date accomplishments. To view the results, click here
Enhancing Native Pollinator Habitat on Farmland
Insect pollination is an essential service for the production of many crops including alfalfa, apples, blueberries, cherries, clover, peaches, pears, squash, sunflowers, tomatoes, and watermelons. Honey bees are given credit for the majority of pollination services, but their recent population decline has many people considering what role our native pollinators can play in agriculture.
There are approximately 4,000 species of insect pollinators native to the United States. This includes species of bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles and flies.
Benefits of Native Pollinators
· Native pollinators are often more effective at pollinating on an insect per insect basis (~250 mason bees needed per acre of orchard compared to ~15,000 - 20,000 honey bees needed per acre) 1.
· They are adapted to our local climate and will pollinate on cold and rainy days when honey bees will not.
· There is no cost associated with renting them.
· Providing native pollinator habitat will also provide habitat for predatory insects and other wildlife species.
·
Supporting several species of native pollinators will help guarantee there is always at least one species present to pollinate in the event of disease and parasites.
Habitat Needs of Native Pollinators
There are two main components to native pollinator habitat, a source of food and nesting sites. Pollinators need a wide variety of flowering plants that will produce nectar and pollen throughout the growing season and provide a continual source of food. This can be obtained through planting a wide variety of wildflowers that are adapted to the soils and climate of the area. There should be several wildflowers in bloom during each phase of the growing season.
In addition to a steady food source, pollinating insects also need nesting and egg-laying sites. Butterflies and moths require specific host plants for laying eggs and for their larvae to eat. Most bees dig narrow tunnels and live in the ground; however some species make nests in dead woody vegetation.
|
|
Other tips to increase native pollinator habitat:
· Because some native bees live in the ground, establishing no-till areas in well-drained soils will help provide nesting sites.
· If possible let some crops bolt to provide an additional source of food for the pollinators.
· Once native pollinator habitat has been identified, avoid close contact with pesticides and other chemicals.
· Consider building or purchasing nesting sites for cavity-nesting species if there is a lack of woody vegetation near the fields of interest.
· Choose insecticides and application methods that are less harmful to native pollinators. Ground applications of chemicals with large granules have less of an impact on native pollinators while aerial spraying of dusts and microencapsulated insecticides are the most harmful to native pollinators2.
|
Native Wildflowers
Household Hazardous Waste/
Clean Sweep Collection Day
This free program could not have
collected over 52,800 pounds of Hazardous
Waste and over 1,600 gallons of used motor
oil in the 3 county area without the support
of the following:
Steering Committee:
John Rose, Chairman (City of Manistee)
Michelle DeKuiper, Vice Chair (MSUE & Mason/Lake CD)
Lynda Herremans, Secretary (Mason/Lake CD)
Dick Jenkins, Fiduciary (Manistee CD)
Manistee County Household Hazardous Waste
Committee/Clean Sweep Collection Day Volun-
teers:
Frank Beaver, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
Steve Nation, Wellston Resident
Natalie Thomas, Manistee Resident
Lyle Linsemier, Brethren Resident
Brad Smith, Manistee Resident
Linda Cihlar, Master Gardener of Brethren
Rev. James Carmichael, Bear Lake Resident
Don Girven, Bear Lake Resident
Margaret Wilkinson, Onekama Resident
Nate Polenciewicz, Manistee Resident
Jed Jaworski, MSUE Field Assistant
Sharcy Ray, NRCS Trainee
Liz Padalino, CWMA Invasive Species Coordinator
Deputy Torrey, Sheriff's Department
Leah Peterson, Pharmacist-Richmond Drug
John Kaser, Pharmacist-Richmond Drug
Bruce Brandt, ASM Troop #63
Jacob Fitch, Scout in Troop #63
Elijah Hayes, Scout in Troop #63
Jack Coryell, Scout in Troop #63
Jarrod Berard, Scout in Troop #63
Ethan Hunt, Scout in Troop #63
Glenn Lottie, County Commissioner
David Smeltzer, MCD Director
Carol Pasco, MCD Board Treasurer
Karen Jaskulski, MCD Admin. Assistant
|
American Elm, "Princeton"
The original "Princeton" Elm, a true American elm , grew in Princeton Cemetery in Princeton, NJ and lived to be 150 years old before being cut down. Other examples of the "Princeton" Elm were planted along Washington Road and survive to this day, all demonstrating resistence to the disease that decimated the Elm population in the United States, Dutch Elm disease.
From these disease resistant trees, cuttings were taken and grown, all exhibiting the natural resistance to disease. In 2005, 90 "Princeton" Elms were choosen to be planted along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.
Plant It Wild is an independent, non-profit, native plant group based in Benzie and Manistee Counties. The mission of Plant It Wild is to foster greater awareness and appreciation of the fragile natural environment of our region. Through direct efforts we work to preserve, protect and promote natural beauty of the area and its plant communities.
Please visit our website at the following link, www.plantitwild.org
Contact information: Carolyn Thayer: 231-352-6962 and Anne Kaminski: 231-378-2424
Remember, to help protect our natural resources, always recycle...
CONSERVATION
BOOK RACK
Come visit our Conservation Book Rack, located in the front of the Manistee Conservation District's office at 8840 Chippewa Highway, Bear Lake. We are having a 50% off closeout on our remaining books . Come in and see the savings.
This program could not have happened without the financial support of the following local units of government and organizations which represents support from:
Manistee County municipalities
Arcadia Township
Bear Lake Township
Brown Township
Charter Township of Filer
City of Manistee
Cleon Township
Dickson Township
Manistee County Commissioners
Manistee Township
Marilla Township
Maple Grove Township
Norman Township
Onekama Township
Pleasanton Township
Springdale Township
Village of Bear Lake
Village of Eastlake
Village of Kaleva
Village of Copemich
Village of Onekama
Generous financial contributions from participants on Collection Day were greatly appreciated.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Future environmental (Disposal of oil) Drug and Laboratory Disposal, Inc. Interstate Batteries
District Health Department #10
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Manistee News Advocate (coverage) Manistee County Sheriff Department Manistee Road Commission (drop off site)
Manistee Conservation District
Michigan State University Extension WMTE AM/FM Radio (coverage)
Michigan Water Stewardship Program Richmond Drug of Bear Lake
|
