Jarod Perez, MS Entomology Student, presented on November 18th, continuing the PPEM Fall Seminar Series for his exit seminar, titled “Can Prairie Strips be a Valuable, Novel Location for Iowa Beekeepers?” Approximately 25 faculty, staff, students, and guests attend the seminar to learn more about beekeeping in Iowa prairie strips.
Perez examined how different environments affect bees, for example, monocultivation of corn and soybeans, which can limit resources. Additionally, prairie strips can support and enhance the resources for honey bees. Even without the use of prairie strips, honey bees can help farmers increase production in the United States. However, honey bees eating pollen from soybean flowers will affect the taste compared to those living in prairie strips. Prairie strips provide more forage than many tradition agricultural landscapes and may benefit honey bees. In fact, a prairie strip can be of equivalent value to a traditional site chosen by professional beekeepers.
Audience members enjoyed Perez’s seminar and recognized the importance of honey bees in Iowa. Graduate student Edgar Vargas enjoyed learning about “the source (of the pollen) can change the honey with different characteristics in taste.” Carl Bowling, an entomology graduate student, noted, “The addition of prairie strips can benefit both farmers and beekeepers.
The PPEM Fall Seminar Series will continue after fall break with a seminar presented by Dr. Wade Webster of North Dakota State University on December 1st titled “Defending Soybeans in the Wild West from Old Foes and New Intruders.”