General Mills is on a mission to save the declining bee population, and is providing farmers with an opportunity to join the fight.

The food company is working with Cheerios to provide producers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, North and South Dakota, and western Minnesota with free wildflower and grass seeds so farmers can plant habitat for pollinators, which are credited for having a signifcant impact on the growth and production of crops, especially oats.

Jim Eckberg, agronomist and plant ecologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation based out of Woodbury, Minnesota, said the goal of this four-year program is to plant 3,300 acres of habitat in the five regions. Currently, there are roughly 350 acres planted in Manitoba, he added.

Additionally, the program is meant to bring agronomical value to each participating farm by increasing the pollinator population, and in turn, heightening crop yields.

Eckberg noted it is critical that all land being used for this program is protected from insecticide and pesticide drift, as to not harm the bees. The best areas to plant in, he said, are the areas that are really dry or prone to flooding because they don't want to compete with food production.

Though the program is four years long, Eckberg said they would like for participating farmers to maintain the habitat for three to five years.

A demonstration plot will be set up near Brandon so farmers can learn more about the benefits of the program, as well as to inspire them.

To learn more about the program, you can contact Eckberg via jim.eckberg@xerces.org