Through legislative provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to farmers who want to establish or enhance native bee habitat. Information about these provisions is available from http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/2008_farm_bill_-fact_sheet_xerces_society.pdf Typically these farm enhancements consist of designated wildflower-rich “bee pastures,” native plant buffer strips, and flowering hedgerows. Through various programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and others, farmers may be eligible for financial incentive payments to offset the costs of plant materials, as well as technical support to plan and implement the their project. Program specifics vary from state to state, and more information is available from local USDA-NRCS Service Centers, and from the NRCS Plant Materials Program, http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/pollinators.html -Eric Mader, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

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