Dear farmers, gardeners, landowners, landscapers, horticulture professionals, and other agricultural stakeholders:
Dr. Lynn Adler at the University of MA is proposing new research to assess whether pollen from certain flowers can reduce bee disease. This builds on her lab's discovery that sunflower pollen dramatically reduces a common disease of bumble bees, both in the lab and on farms. This new research would expand these results by testing pollen from sunflower relatives, such as zinnias, dahlias, cosmos, black-eyed Susan and Echinacea, that are grown as cut flowers and used in the landscaping/horticulture industry. Extension is collaborating with Dr. Adler to disseminate information as this project evolves.
Demonstrating stakeholder interest in using cut flowers to improve bee health will be an important part of the proposal. Dr. Adler would be grateful for your input on a brief survey.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Lynn Adler:
lsadler@umass.edu .