A multiyear initiative by Team Kentucky to plant nectar-rich flowers and native plants along the state’s roadsides is continuing to support a thriving environment for pollinators, crucial for crop production in the commonwealth.
As part of National Pollinator Week, observed from June 17-23, state highway officials are celebrating Kentucky’s commitment to nurturing a healthy ecosystem while maintaining safe roadsides.
Since 2015, crews from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) have seeded more than 100 habitat sites, covering approximately 200 acres along interstates, parkways, and other state rights of way. The Cabinet’s Deputy Executive of Public Affairs, Allen Blair, touched on some of the ways the project impacts the Commonwealth’s environment and industry.
Drivers can observe these pollinator plots in many roadside areas, including fields between interstate lanes and exit ramps, roadsides adjacent to multilane parkways, and four-lane highways such as U.S. 23 in Eastern Kentucky. Monarch butterfly waystations have also been installed at welcome centers, rest areas, and other sites to provide the specific flowers needed by these insects.
These colorful habitats, filled with various grasses and native flowers, attract creatures that drink nectar and feed off pollen.
Pollinator species, including bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and even some small mammals, play an essential role in agriculture, particularly in rural areas where farming is the backbone of the economy.
These creatures are responsible for the pollination of over 75% of flowering plants and nearly 75% of crops that produce fruits and seeds consumed by humans. In rural agricultural settings (such as Barren and surrounding counties), the diversity of pollinators is crucial for ensuring crop health and yield.
Bees, especially honeybees and native bees, are the most well-known pollinators, but others like butterflies and moths contribute significantly to the pollination of various crops.
The presence of diverse pollinator species enhances the resilience and stability of agricultural ecosystems. Different pollinators are active at different times of the day and seasons, ensuring continuous pollination throughout the growing cycle. This variety also helps in mitigating risks; for example, if one pollinator species declines due to disease or habitat loss, others can still maintain pollination services.
Moreover, pollinators contribute to the genetic diversity of plants by facilitating cross-pollination, which leads to stronger and more resilient crop varieties. This genetic diversity is crucial for developing new strains that can withstand pests, diseases, and
changing climate conditions.
In essence, the variety of pollinator species is integral to the sustainability and productivity of agriculture in rural areas.
Blair took a moment to spotlight the diversity of flora and fauna that preserves the state’s well-being.
This year, additional pollinator habitats have been added to highway construction projects on Interstate 69 in Western Kentucky and other areas.
“The cultivation of these pollinator plots is one of the many ways we strive to be good stewards of our highway network,” said Transportation Secretary Jim Gray. “The habitats we create will improve our ecosystem, help plants reproduce, and ultimately build a better Kentucky.”
“While these plots add color to our drives and landscapes when the flowers bloom, their beauty is a secondary benefit,” said Mike Smith, roadside environment state administrator in the Division of Maintenance, Roadside Environmental Branch. “The survival of our pollinators is essential to the survival of many native plants, birds, and animals.” Developing these plots is a gradual process, as crews work to remove competing vegetation and reseed selected areas with a wildflower pollinator mix.
While areas next to roads continue to be routinely mowed, pollinator habitats are mowed less frequently to allow the ecosystems to thrive.
Increasing plant diversity along roadways can also improve driver safety. Studies have shown that vibrant wildflowers and plants of differing heights can increase driver alertness, potentially reducing accidents.
Additionally, reducing freshly cut grass, which deer enjoy eating, may lessen deer-vehicle collisions.
As the pollinator program progresses, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet remains committed to maintaining these sites across the state and increasing the total pollinator habitat acreage in the future.
