Nearly one third of California's treasure of agricultural crops depends on pollination, and most of the bees that accomplish that task are native sons and daughters.
We hear a lot about bees being imported in February as almonds, one of the state's major crops seriously dependent on pollination, approach bloom. But pollination of 100 other crops takes place without fanfare for most of each year by native wild bees.
A research study at the University of California has found that ranches and range land, commonly thought of as more cow-friendly than bee-friendly, are the native haunts of huge populations of bees that move into and out of tree, vine and row crops as blossoms attract them.
But housing and other development have encroached on the state's rangelands and threaten to expand at a faster rate, diminishing the bees' native habitat. Too much expansion and the state's cherished crop production conditions of soil, water, climate and — as we now know — bees can be jeopardized.
The university research project's senior author is Clare Kremen, associate professor of environmental science, policy and management at Berkeley. She estimates that the native bees contribute $11.7 billion or about one-third of the value of California's enormous agricultural economy. She makes a plea for their protection through preservation of their native habitat.
Loss of the state's rangelands to development and other uses has been substantial. From 1990 to 2004, the Golden State lost 105,000 acres of grazing land to urbanization by Department of Conservation measurements. The California Oak Foundation projects that the state can lose another 750,000 acres by 2040. Ouch!
Cattle ranchers are the primary stewards of the rangelands where the wild bees flourish. To occupy a front-line position protecting the bees, they just have to keep doing what they're doing. Many of them probably have not been aware of their strategic position in preserving bee habitat.
Lynn Huntsinger, a professor of rangeland management at U.C. Berkeley, was not affiliated with the study, but said its significance lies in its confirmation that conserving rangelands enhances production in crops beyond the rangeland. She calls it economic symbiosis.
She believes the study's findings provide a statewide value for the service that ranchers provide in protecting and maintaining pollinator habitat. She said ranchers have been asked to maintain flowers for endangered butterflies and to keep small vernal pools healthy by using cattle grazing as a tool to manipulate the grassland.
Kremen also likens the presence of the native wild bees to a stock portfolio. "We would never invest all of our retirement savings in just one stock, but this is essentially what farmers do when they rely solely on the European honeybee for pollination," she said.
No doubt the beef cattle that occupy the ranches and rangelands of the state perceive an opportunity to be recognized for their charitable contributions to agriculture and to society. Their dairy cousins are celebrated for just being happy, but they have an opportunity to be spotlighted for their support of the state's dynamic agricultural industry, for protecting some delicate species of grasses and for making life worthwhile for the wild bees.
Sounds like a promotional campaign for television might be in the offing.
Those Herefords and Angus and other popular beef breeds are out there in the ranchlands and the rangelands keeping the world safe for bee procreation while their dairy cow cousins are receiving lots of attention for just being happy.
Any reason the beef cattle can't be credited for their steadfastness, their pride and their true friendship with California's wild bee population? What a promotional campaign that will make! It's obvious that beef cattle can have a more noble reputation that just being what's for dinner.
CONTACT Don Curlee at agwriter1@sbcglobal.net.
