URI Pollinator Study at Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm

The University of Rhode Island has been conducting a regional bee study in Rhode Island - and The Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm is one of the chosen study sites. The purpose of the study is to monitor wild native bees in Farm Bill conservation plantings in RI and CT to evaluate the efficacy of existing Farm Bill practices and provide suggestions to improve the program. Casey Johnson is leading the project, with the help of URI students Emma Tondre, Ren Johnson, Kate Perzanowski, Kate Zmich, and Julia Vieira under the direction of University of Rhode Island Professor Steve Alm - they have been studying the bees in the pollinator patch at the farm.

The pollinator patch is open to the public and there is a path with educational signage. We invite you to visit the path - please click here to learn more.

Pictured: Bee species Bombus fervidus (yellow bumblebee) on a Comfrey flower at the farm; Casey Johnson, Ren Johnson, and Emma Tondre at work in the AgInnovation Farm pollinator patch.