{"id":112780,"date":"2020-08-12T12:26:20","date_gmt":"2020-08-12T16:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=112780"},"modified":"2020-09-28T11:45:23","modified_gmt":"2020-09-28T15:45:23","slug":"nys-issues-plan-to-create-pollinator-habitats-on-commercial-properties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=112780","title":{"rendered":"NYS Issues Plan To Create Pollinator Habitats On Commercial Properties"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"562\" height=\"422\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-112781\" data-id=\"112781\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image006.jpg?resize=562%2C422&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image006.jpg?w=562&amp;ssl=1 562w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image006.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image006.jpg?resize=150%2C113&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"562\" height=\"749\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-112782\" data-id=\"112782\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image005.jpg?resize=562%2C749&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image005.jpg?w=562&amp;ssl=1 562w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image005.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image005.jpg?resize=113%2C150&amp;ssl=1 113w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"564\" height=\"752\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-112783\" data-id=\"112783\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image004.jpg?resize=564%2C752&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image004.jpg?w=564&amp;ssl=1 564w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image004.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image004.jpg?resize=113%2C150&amp;ssl=1 113w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"567\" height=\"378\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-112784\" data-id=\"112784\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image003-1.jpg?resize=567%2C378&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image003-1.jpg?w=567&amp;ssl=1 567w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image003-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image003-1.jpg?resize=150%2C100&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"566\" height=\"377\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-112785\" data-id=\"112785\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image002.jpg?resize=566%2C377&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image002.jpg?w=566&amp;ssl=1 566w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image002.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image002.jpg?resize=150%2C100&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 566px) 100vw, 566px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cuomo\u2019s proclamation commemorates importance of pollinators to New York\u2019s environment and agricultural economy<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The state Departments of Agriculture and Markets and Environmental Conservation announced new actions to benefit and protect New York\u2019s pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. AGM issued new guidelines to help businesses create pollinator-friendly habitats on commercial properties or utility project sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, DEC recently installed a new solar array at the Region 4 Stamford sub-office that includes a pollinator garden planted beneath the panels and installed two large bee colonies at its Long Island office as part of ongoing efforts to maintain a more sustainable workplace. The state commemorated these steps during National Pollinator Week, June 22 through 28, with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/agriculture.ny.gov\/pollinator-proclamation-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a proclamation issued by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo<\/a>, affirming New York\u2019s commitment to promoting the health and recovery of pollinators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDuring National Pollinator Week, we honor the critical impact that pollinators have on New York agriculture,\u201d said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. \u201cPollinators make it possible for our farmers to grow a diverse array of foods and feed our communities. The new guidelines will help businesses to better safeguard pollinator health and ensure the continued strength of our agricultural industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPollinators are vital to the health of our environment and New York\u2019s agricultural economy,\u201d said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. \u201cNew sustainable initiatives like pollinator gardens and beehives installed at DEC\u2019s regional offices are building on our commitment to maintain and promote healthy pollinator populations across the state by creating optimal habitats where pollinators can thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNational Pollinator Week focuses our attention on the importance of pollinators in our food system,\u201d said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, chairwoman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee. \u201cProtecting pollinators means protecting global food security as a large portion of the world&#8217;s crops rely on them. Creating pollinator-friendly habitats on commercial and utility properties is a wonderful step. I appreciate AGM and DEC working together to address the long-term sustainability of the state&#8217;s agriculture industry.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adequate pollinator habitat is essential to agriculture and a secure food system, with&nbsp;more than&nbsp;one-third of global crop production dependent on pollinator services. The state\u2019s Pollinator Protection Plan,&nbsp;created to help the recovery of a declining pollinator population,&nbsp;identified the&nbsp;loss of foraging habitat as one of the many factors contributing to honeybee colony loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To promote increased pollinator habitat restoration, AGM has issued new guidelines that outline short-&nbsp;and long-term property management practices that&nbsp;provide and maintain native vegetation on properties to protect the health and well-being of pollinators.&nbsp;Commercial and utility project locations have been identified as suitable locations for habitat restoration.&nbsp;The guidelines, found&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/agriculture.ny.gov\/plant-industry\/new-york-state-utility-corridor-pollinator-habitat-guidelines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>, include helpful information on planning and site preparations; seeding, planting, and community establishment; and operation and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DEC recently installed a 44-kilowatt solar system at its Region 4 Stamford office, which will offset approximately 56 percent of the building\u2019s annual electricity needs, resulting in an estimated $5,800 annual savings.&nbsp;The solar array will generate approximately 58,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, enough to power five homes. Since going online in mid-February, the solar array has generated almost 6.3 megawatt-hours (MWh) of power, preventing 4.34 tons of carbon emissions, the equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 111 trees. The solar array project was funded through NY Works, with a 20-percent incentive from the state Research and Development Authority\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nyserda.ny.gov\/All-Programs\/Programs\/NY-Sun\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NY-Sun Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the energy benefits and to take full advantage of the space underneath the solar panels, DEC partnered with the Seneca Park Zoo Society\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/senecaparkzoo.org\/education\/butterfly-beltway-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Butterfly Beltway<\/a>&nbsp;project to plant a pollinator garden. The Rochester-based organization developed a variety of seed mixes that will be planted beneath the panels, including a \u201clow-grow\u201d seed mix for plants that, when in bloom, will not impede the collection of solar energy. The Seneca Park Zoo Society is one of DEC\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dec.ny.gov\/press\/111888.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Environmental Excellence Award<\/a>&nbsp;winners for its outstanding pollinator education and engagement initiatives. To help ensure the survival of the pollinator garden, the Stamford Sustainability Team recently welcomed a small hive of native honey bees that are already at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, DEC\u2019s Region 1 office in Stony Brook recently established two new honey bee hives to help benefit the environment. DEC received honey bees, including two queen bees and approximately&nbsp;20,000 worker bees that were installed into new beehives near the office.&nbsp;While the new bees work to benefit the local environment, employees in Region 1 are participating in hands-on beekeeping and the logistics, methods and challenges of establishing and maintaining&nbsp;honey bee hives&nbsp;in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Initiatives like DEC\u2019s new pollinator garden and bee hive are among several ways commercial and residential property owners can help pollinators. Pollinators contribute substantially to the state\u2019s environment and economy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pollinators provide approximately $439 million worth of pollination services to New York and add significant value to crop production nationally each year. New York&#8217;s ability to produce crops such as apples, grapes, cherries, onions, pumpkins and cauliflower relies heavily on the presence of pollinators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Funding from the Environmental Protection Fund continues to assist in the implementation of the state\u2019s Pollinator Protection Plan.&nbsp;The plan found that&nbsp;a combination of factors such as poor nutrition, loss of foraging habitat, parasites, pesticides, pathogens, lack of genetic diversity and poor land management practices contribute to colony loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As part of the plan and in response to rising concerns about honey bee declines, the state has developed and expanded the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pollinator.cals.cornell.edu\/nys-beekeeper-tech-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NYS Beekeeper Tech Team at Cornell University<\/a>. The NYS Beekeeper Tech Team, now in its fifth year of research, works directly with beekeepers to improve honeybee health, reduce colony losses, and increase profitability of the beekeeping industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese innovative and creative projects are examples of how New York state agencies and our partners are making a difference in protecting pollinators and we encourage communities across the state to join our efforts,\u201d Seggos said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For additional resources on planting healthy pollinator habitats, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pollinator.cals.cornell.edu\/resources\/planting-pollinator-habitat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences\u2019 website<\/a>. Information on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/nysipm.cornell.edu\/environment\/pollinators\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Integrated Pest Management best practices<\/a>&nbsp;and additional&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pollinator.cals.cornell.edu\/resources\/grower-resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">resources for growers<\/a>&nbsp;are available on Cornell University\u2019s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences\u2019 website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cuomo\u2019s proclamation commemorates importance of pollinators to New York\u2019s environment and agricultural economy The state Departments of Agriculture and Markets and Environmental Conservation announced new actions to benefit and protect New York\u2019s pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. AGM issued new guidelines to help businesses create pollinator-friendly habitats on commercial properties or utility project sites. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23679,23810,8],"tags":[27332,27324,27328,27336,27325,27331,27340,27323,27329,27321,27337,27334,27341,27322,27320,27326,27338,27327,27339,25933,27333,27335,27330,25600],"class_list":["post-112780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agfarming","category-wellbeing","category-top-story","tag-apples","tag-assemblywoman-donna-lupardo","tag-butterfly-beltway","tag-cauliflower","tag-chairwoman-of-the-assembly-agriculture-committee","tag-cherries","tag-cornell-university-college-of-agriculture-and-life-sciences","tag-dec-commissioner-basil-seggos","tag-decs-environmental-excellence-award","tag-department-of-environmental-conservation-nys-dec","tag-environmental-protection-fund","tag-grapes","tag-integrated-pest-management-best-practices","tag-national-pollinator-week","tag-new-york-state-departments-of-agriculture-and-markets-and-environmental-conservation","tag-new-york-state-research-and-development-authority","tag-new-york-states-pollinator-protection-plan","tag-ny-sun-program","tag-nys-beekeeper-tech-team-at-cornell-university","tag-nys-new-york-state-agriculture-commissioner-richard-a-ball","tag-onions","tag-pumpkins","tag-seneca-park-zoo-society","tag-u-s-department-of-agriculture"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p43meu-tl2","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=112780"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112780\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=112780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=112780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=112780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}