Pollinator Partnership and NRCS California

Billy Synk, NRCS Pollinator Liaison California

Billy Synk has worked at the intersection of agriculture and research ever since graduating from The Ohio State University, where he received a BS in environmental policy and management. After gaining experience with production agriculture he joined UC Davis, where he managed bees and participated in research projects. With extensive knowledge of commercial beekeeping and soil health practices he managed Project Apis m’s ‘Seeds for Bees’ program which installed more than 67,000 acres of bee forage cover crops in orchards throughout California. The focus of his work ties together sustainability practices which improve soil health, pollinator health, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in ways that are practical for all land managers. As a Pollinator Liaison, Billy will focus on grower enrollment into NRCS programs that support pollinators, as well as participating in trainings and field days. He will also work with the Bee Friendly Farming Coordinator to bring useful information and resources to P2's network of farmers. For further inquiries about his work with NRCS, you can reach Billy via email.

Financial & Technical Assistance

Getting Started

• How to get started with NRCS

• Contact your local USDA service center

• Find your local Soil and Water Conservation District

Federal Programs & Resources

EQIP -Administered by NRCS that can provide financial assistance to install conservation practices that address natural resource concerns.

CSP - Helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns.

CIG - Funding opportunity to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.

Pollinators & Agriculture

• Bee Friendly Farming

• Bee Friendly Farming Handbook

• Cover Cropping for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects

• FARMING FOR BEES Guidelines for Providing Native Bee Habitat on Farms

• Attractiveness of Agricultural Crops to Pollinating Bees for the Collection of Nectar and/or Pollen

• Seeds for Bees

NRCS western Monarch Documents

• Instructions for Monarch Butterfly Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide and Decision Support Tool: Western Coastal Plain, (PDF, 530KB)
• Monarch Butterfly Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide (WHEG) Data Sheet: Western Coastal Plain (XLSX, 256KB)
• Important Plants and Plant Lists of the Monarch Butterfly - Western Coastal Plain (PDF, 13.3MB)
• Best Practices for the Monarch Butterfly - Western Coastal Plain Region (PDF, 72kb)

Native Plant Guides

• Pollinator Partnership - California Coastal Chaparral
• Pollinator Partnership - California Coastal Steppe
• Pollinator Partnership - California Coastal Range Open Woodland
• Pollinator Partnership - California Dry Steppe
• NRCS - eVegGuide
• CalFlora- California Plant Database

NRCS California Survey