A program that helps producers create pollinator habitat and refuges is coming to Alberta.

To enrol in the Operation Pollinator program, producers agree to convert one to two acres of lower-productivity land to establish a pollinator habitat. In exchange for dedicating the land, producers receive a provision of high-quality, pollinator-friendly wildflower seed, agronomic advice, and assistance to help offset site establishment costs.

The goal of the program — a joint effort of the Soil Conservation Council of Canada and Syngenta Canada — is to establish and maintain new pollinator-friendly habitat over the long term; study and learn from these sites; and enhance biodiversity for the benefit of the larger Prairie ecosystem.

The program is open to producers across the Prairies. In Alberta, it is being delivered by ARECA (Agriculture Research and Extension Council of Alberta). For more information, see www.soilcc.ca.