Grant ID Number: ONE10-128
Grant Recipient: Alexandru Surcica, Penn State University Cooperative Extension, Southeast Region, Chambersburg PA
Pumpkins are a key crop, but their flowers are short-lived and tend to rely mainly on squash bees for reproduction. At the same time, growers can pay up to $120 an acre for honeybee rental. The project manager will assess pumpkin pollination requirements by comparing yields from plots where specific bees are present or excluded to find out whether there is a need for rented bees or whether wild bees will provide adequate pollination, saving farmers a production cost. Outreach will be through a regional newsletter, the agricultural media, the web, and at grower meetings and field days.
