How can you protect pollinators when planning pesticide applications?

• A. Apply during bloom and use broad-spectrum products.
• B. Avoid bloom periods; implement drift reduction; use selective products; maintain flowering alternatives; communicate with beekeepers.
• C. Only use products with no label restrictions.
• D. Keep irrigation high to wash away residues.

Answer: (B)

Protecting pollinators hinges on minimizing their exposure to pesticides and coordinating management with pollinator needs. The best approach is to avoid spraying during bloom when bees and other pollinators are actively foraging, use drift-reducing practices to keep spray off flowers and hives, choose products that are more selective and less toxic to non-target pollinators, provide flowering alternatives nearby so pollinators have forage, and communicate with beekeepers to coordinate timing or relocate hives if needed. This combination reduces the chances of residues in nectar and pollen reaching pollinators while still achieving pest control.

Spraying during bloom with broad-spectrum products exposes pollinators directly to harmful residues, which is why that approach is not protective. Relying on label-restricted practices is essential, and using products with no restrictions or relying on irrigation to wash residues away are not reliable methods for safeguarding pollinators.