Key Takeaways

• Pollinators support crop production: Bees and other pollinators are essential for the production of many fruit, vegetable, seed and specialty crops, in addition to supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health. 

• Pesticides can unintentionally impact pollinator communities: Exposure can occur through direct spray, residues on blooming plants, contaminated food or nesting sources, and spray drift. 

• The label is law: Pesticide labels contains legally required instructions and pollinator protection precautions that should always be reviewed prior to application.

• Timing matters: Pollinators are less active in the evening, so later evening or nighttime applications are beneficial. Always avoid pesticide applications during bloom when pollinators are actively foraging.

• Reducing spray drift is crucial: Proper nozzle selection, boom height, droplet size and general weather awareness help keep applications on the intended target(s).

• Communication improves protection: Coordinating with nearby beekeepers can reduce conflicts and allow proper time for management protection measures to be implemented.

Pollinator protection in modern crop production has become increasingly important due to global pollinator declines and the pollination services they provide. Growers and applicators should be encouraged to understand how pesticide decisions affect both managed and wild pollinator populations. Simple management adjustments such as avoiding active bloom times, reducing spray drift, following label requirements, and communicating with beekeepers can significantly reduce pollinator exposure while still supporting effective pest management in cropping systems. 

Introduction

Pollinators play a crucial role in agricultural production systems by supporting crop pollination, biodiversity and overall ecosystem sustainability. Both managed pollinators, such as honey bees, and wild pollinators contribute to food production and environmental health. Many fruit, vegetable, seed and specialty crops benefit directly from the use of pollination services, in addition to the broader ecosystem functions within and outside agricultural landscapes from pollinators. Recent research continues to highlight the ecological importance of pollinators in sustaining agricultural productivity and ecosystem resilience, including research focused on the impact of pesticide use on wild bee distributions across the United States (Guzman, 2024).

In recent years, there have been growing concerns over the declining pollinator populations across the globe. These population declines have also increased awareness of how current agricultural practices may be impacting pollinator health. Environmental stressors, habitat loss, disease and pesticide exposure have all been identified as contributing factors to pollinator declines (USDA, 2024; Pollinator Partnership, 2024). Growers and applicators must consider how pesticide applications may unintentionally affect pollinators and other beneficial insects, because they remain an important part of crop protection. 

Protecting pollinators does not mean the elimination of pesticide use. Rather, it means making informed management decisions that would reduce unnecessary exposure while still maintaining effective pest control. Pollinator risk can be minimized through careful application planning, label compliance, communication with nearby beekeepers, and using integrated pest management (IPM) practices while also providing effective crop protection programs. By understanding pollinator activity, pesticide risks, and application best practices, growers and applicators can help pollinator populations while supporting long-term agricultural productivity and sustainability. 

Pesticide Impacts on Pollinators

There are a variety of ways in which pollinators can become exposed to pesticides, such as direct spray applications, pesticide residues on flowering plants, contaminated pollen and nectar, and even nesting materials (Figure 2). Additionally, spray drift can move pesticides beyond the target area and expose any nearby pollinator habitats and populations (Albaseer et al., 2025). 

The level of risk is dependent on several factors, including:

• Type of pesticide being used
• Product toxicity to pollinators
• Application timing
• Pollinator activity levels
• Environmental and weather conditions
• Spray equipment setup and boom height
• Presence of blooming weeds or nearby flowering plants

Insecticides are one of the greatest concerns for pollinators, although some herbicides and fungicides may also indirectly impact forage availability or have synergistic interactions with other environmental stressors. 

Understanding and following the pesticide label is a key step in protecting pollinator populations. Pesticide labels contain legally enforceable instructions regarding application timing, various environmental hazards and pollinator protection requirements. Both farmers and applicators should always review the label carefully before application (Figure 3).

Best Management Practices for Pollinator Protection

Avoid Active Bloom Times

One of the most effective ways to reduce pollinator exposure is to avoid applying insecticides when crops, weeds or nearby vegetation are flowering. Bees and other pollinators are most active during these bloom periods, when they are foraging for nectar and pollen. 

If application is unavoidable at the time, consider mowing flowering weeds prior to treatment when appropriate and safe to do so. However, avoid mowing immediately before an application if pollinators are actively foraging in those weeds, as this may temporarily increase insect movement into the nearby crops.

Application During Low Pollinator Activity Windows

When possible, apply pesticides during evening or nighttime hours, as the bees are less active. Early morning applications may also reduce exposure risks compared to daytime applications. Environmental conditions should be monitored carefully, as temperature shifts and weather conditions can increase drift potential during evening hours. 

Select Lower-Risk Products

Some products have lower risks to pollinators than others. When alternatives are available, use products with lower toxicity to bees and beneficial insects. Always read and follow the label. Product selection should also consider residual activity, the formulation type, and the overall goals for pest management. 

Reducing Spray Drift

Applicators can minimize drift in a variety of ways, which is essential for protecting pollinator health and habitat adjacent to or nearby treated fields.

• Using drift-reduction nozzles
• Maintaining proper boom height
• Monitoring wind speed and direction
• Using appropriate droplet sizes and spray pressure
• Avoiding applications during temperature inversions

Careful consideration of calibration and awareness of environmental conditions can help keep pesticides on target areas and reduce unintended exposure.

Communicate with Nearby Beekeepers

Communication between applicators, growers and beekeepers can improve pollinator protection efforts. By communicating early about planned pesticide applications, beekeepers can effectively provide protective measures, including temporary relocations or hive covers. The collaboration among farmers and beekeepers benefit both agricultural productivity and pollinator health by encouraging proactive management strategies and reducing avoidable exposure events that may occur. 

When possible, use BeeCheck, a voluntary communication tool that enables beekeepers and pesticide applicators to work together to protect apiaries through the BeeCheck mapping program.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Considerations

Rather than relying on pesticide applications alone, IPM programs use a combination of monitoring, economic thresholds, cultural practices and biological controls to guide proactive treatment decisions (USDA, 2026). 

One of the primary principles of IPM is regular pest monitoring and field scouting for pest identification, which allows growers and applicators to determine when treatment is economically feasible and justified. In addition to pest monitoring, there are multiple management strategies that can help reduce pest pressure:

• Crop rotations, which provide a natural disruption to pest life cycles.
• Tolerant/resistant crop varieties.
• Biological (insect predators and parasitoids) and cultural control practices.

Beneficial insects can include predators and parasitoids, which help keep pest populations lower in agricultural systems. Preserving these organisms may also reduce the need for additional pesticide applications and support balanced ecosystems in agricultural settings (University of Minnesota, 2024). 

When pesticide applications are necessary, IPM principles encourage selecting products, application timing, and methods that reduce risks to pollinators whenever possible. Combining multiple pest management approaches can help growers maintain effective crop protection programs while supporting pollinator conservation and long-term agricultural sustainability.

Conclusion

Pollinator protection and effective pest management are not mutually exclusive goals. Careful planning, understanding, and complying with the label, application timing and communication can significantly reduce pollinator risk while maintaining crop productivity. 

As awareness of pollinator health continues to grow, growers and applicators have an important opportunity to adopt practices that support both agricultural success and environmental stewardship. Protecting pollinators today helps preserve the long-term sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems.

Resources

• Guzman, L.M., Elle, E., Morandin, L.A. et al. Impact of pesticide use on wild bee distributions across the United States. Nat Sustain 7, 1324–1334 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01413-8
• Pollinator Partnership (2022). Pesticides. Retrieved May 15, 2026 from Pollinator.org 
• Pollinator Partnership (2022). Threats to pollinators. Retrieved May 15, 2026 from Threats to Pollinators
• Pollinator Partnership. (2022). Protect pollinators: Read pesticide labels [Infographic]. North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. Retrieved May 15, 2026 from Pollinator Protection
• Saeed S. Albaseer, Veerle L.B. Jaspers, Luisa Orsini, Penny Vlahos, Hussein E. Al-Hazmi, Henner Hollert, Beyond the field: How pesticide drift endangers biodiversity, Environmental Pollution, ISSN 0269-7491, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125526 
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Importance of pollinators. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved May 15, 2026 from The Importance of Pollinators
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Integrated Pest Management. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved May 15, 2026 from Integrated Pest Management
• University of Minnesota Extension. Protecting Pollinators from Pesticides. Retrieved May 15, 2026 from Protecting pollinators from pesticides