By Keana Boere, AAg, Agri-Environmental Specialist, Outlook and Graham Parsons, PAg, Pollinator Biosecurity Specialist
February 2025
Many producers seed perennial forage stands for livestock feed, either as hay or pasture. However, forages can also be seeded for other purposes, such as preventing soil erosion, carbon sequestration and weed suppression, production on saline or marginal lands or to support pollinators. In many cases, multiple benefits can be achieved at the same time.
Bumble bee species visiting sainfoin flower.
Pollinators can provide direct yield benefits to producers. Field crops such as canola could have a 20 per cent yield increase with adequate pollinators. Faba beans can also see a yield benefit on average of 50 per cent with good pollination. Producers may consider adding pollinator habitat near their land to increase yield. Providing pollinators a place to live and forage can help their population while also meeting agronomic goals.
Selecting forage species that benefit pollinators is an art and a science, but here are some tips:
- Grasses and wildflowers should both be planted to improve establishment and ground cover while also providing pollinators floral resources.
- Select several wildflower species with differing flowering times. This helps to provide a stable floral source for pollinators the entire growing season.
- Select species that are local to your area and adapted to the growing conditions.
Consider where to seed the forages that will improve on-farm production while keeping pollinators in mind:
- Large, close or connected patches are best for pollinator habitat, especially near the annual crop land where you are looking for pollination benefits.
- Areas of existing landscape diversity/complexity including natural areas, wetlands, riparian areas and tree bluffs already provide natural pollinator habitat. Seeded forages are a helpful addition to maintaining them on your farm.
- Consider adding pollinator habitat to existing marginal, less productive lands. Patches between power poles, awkward field corners/edges, saline areas or along fence lines are some examples.
Beelines is a Saskatchewan Agriculture publication with information on maintaining and creating pollinator habitats and has an extensive pollinator plant list for Saskatchewan.
Funding is available to producers who are interested in seeding perennial forage blends that include pollinator species. Under the Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program, there is funding for seeding tame forage or native forage species and additional funding for including pollinator species in the blend. For more information or application assistance, contact your local agri-environmental specialist.