pollinators Archives

Late summer brings beautiful cornfields, but tall crops can create dangerous blind spots at rural intersections.

To improve safety and enhance our environment, the Papio NRD, Pheasants Forever, The Nebraska Environmental Trust, and Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, offer a cost share program for landowners to plant native grasses and wildflowers to increase visibility.

Through our Pollinator Safety Corners Program, landowners can take one to three acres out of crop production at a four-way rural intersection and convert it into a mix of short, native grasses or pollinator habitat.

Landowners receive 75% cost share for seeds and an annual payment of $250 per acre for five years. Some participants even add bee boxes to their safety corners.

With your participation, we can make these intersections safer for our communities and beneficial for pollinators.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact your Papio NRD field office representative.

Washington, Douglas, Sarpy Counties: John Zaugg (402) 670-4336

Burt County: Jon Hansen (402) 253-9911

Thurston, Dakota Counties: Kaden Kneifl (402) 677-6988

While driving around Washington county recently, you may have noticed how dangerous some of our four-way rural intersections have become due to the height of corn. Tall crops often obstruct the line-of-sight needed at rural intersections. The Papio NRD, along with Pheasants Forever, The Nebraska Environmental Trust, and Nebraska Game & Parks offer a cost-share program to improve safety while also providing a benefit to pollinators.

Due to this one-acre Pollinator Safety Corner, drivers have a better line of sight. Photo courtesy of Armando Zarco.

Pollinator Safety Corner in Washington County. Photo courtesy of Armando Zarco.

The Pollinator Safety Corners Program allows landowners to take one to three acres at a four-way rural intersection out of crop production and seeded into a mix of short, native grasses or pollinator habitat. Landowners receive 75% cost-share on seed mix. In addition, the program provides an annual payment of $250/acre for 5 years. Some participants even choose to install bee boxes on their safety corners.

“The Pollinator Safety Corners Program helps save the lives of both people and pollinators,” said Papio NRD Land & Water Programs Coordinator Terry Schumacher. “It’s a great way to increase the overall safety in our communities while also benefitting our ecosystem.”

For more information, contact the Papio NRD Blair field office at (402) 426-4782 ext. 3.