What is Bee Friendly Farming in Canada?
Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) is a certification program from Pollinator Partnership working with farmers to help protect, preserve and promote pollinator health. Originally created by Kathy Kellison in collaboration with other experts (Sam Droege, Mace Vaughn, Dennis vanEnglesdorp, Marla Spivak, Randy Oliver, Robbin Thorp, Karen Strickler, Gerry Miller, Jeff Anderson, Phil Giles, and Gene Brandi), BFF provides guidelines for farmers and growers to promote pollinator health on their lands. BFF was initially managed by Partners for Sustainable Pollination (PFSP) until they were acquired by Pollinator Partnership (P2) in April 2013 to create today’s BFF program, coordinated and administered by P2. The program is also overseen by a task force of experts from the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) including scientists and farmers, as it strives to set standards for sustainable farming on important concepts like planting pollinator food resources, providing nesting habitat, and incorporating an integrated pest management strategy. BFF helps ensure the future of both pollinators and sustainable agriculture as it expands across North America and around the globe.
The Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) programs recognize, engage, and support BFF participants and pollinators everywhere. By becoming a Bee Friendly Farming member, you can help preserve and protect the pollinator populations by implementing positive, incremental changes on your property. BFF helps farmers incorporate affordable, simple, science-based guidelines, like offering nutrition and habitats for bees, and integrated pest management strategies. Program members are an essential part of keeping our pollinators healthy and food supply abundant. Join hundreds of other members by applying today.
BFF Case Study: The Almond Industry
What are the Criteria?
- Offer forage providing good nutrition for bees on at least 3%* of land. Forage can be temporary, including cover crops.1–6
- Provide bloom of different flowering plants throughout the growing season, especially in early spring and late autumn. There is no minimum land coverage for seasonal bloom.7–18
- Offer clean water for bees if not inhibited by government mandated water restrictions.19–21
- Provide permanent habitat for nesting through features such as hedgerows, natural brush, buffer strips, or bare ground.7,8,22,23
- Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM); reduce or eliminate the use of chemicals. To learn more, click here. 7,8,15,16,24
- Pay the annual CAD 60 certification fee.
- Complete the compliance form once every 3 years (audited by the BFF Task Force).
*Have factors that prevent you from reaching 3%? Let us know and we may be able to work with you to help you meet the certification. Email bff@pollinator.org.
