What’s the buzz around Kentucky’s favorite pollinators? Here are some fast facts about the benefits of bees.
Beneficial insects can help control insect pests on some of the state's top crops.
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Over 90 crops in the U.S., including almonds, tree fruits, cotton, berries, and many vegetables, are dependent on insect pollinators such as the honey bee for reproduction.
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OF KENTUCKY'S COUNTIES HAVE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATIONS.
Honey is the only food source for humans produced by an insect.
For every 1 cup of sugar, substitute 1/2 to 2/3 cup of honey.
Mayflies and Assasin bugs can be helpful indicators of a healthy ecosystem.
ACRES OF NATURE PRESERVES COVER KENTUCKY. THESE LANDS PROTECT THE STATE’S MOST DIVERSE NATURAL HABITATS AND PROVIDE NESTING SITES ESSENTIAL TO POLLINATORS.
Many beneficial insects prey on pest species such as aphids and mosquitoes. A single dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in a day.
THE NUMBER OF LADYBUG SPECIES IN THE WORLD. NORTH AMERICA IS HOME TO 400 SPECIES.
Praying mantises are carnivorous and will eat crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, frogs, lizards and even small birds.
Kentucky is home to more than 77,000 farms covering about 13 million acres of land in the state.
OF THE STATE'S TOTAL ACREAGE IS FARMLAND
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Kentucky is home to 77,000 farms, ranking it 6th in the U.S.
Kentucky is home to a wide variety of agriculture production, from horses and beef cattle to tobacco and corn. The state also produces poultry, aquaculture and horticulture.
THE AVERAGE ACREAGE OF A KENTUCKY FARM, COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 435 ACRES. KENTUCKY AGRICULTURE IS DOMINATED BY SMALL-SCALE FAMILY FARMS. OVER 57% OF ITS FARMS HAVE ANNUAL SALES OF LESS THAN $10,000.
Agriculture contributes approximately $45.6 billion to Kentucky's economy each year.
Kentucky ranks in the top 30 nationally in several commodities including 1st for burley and dark air-cured tobacco, 4th for hay production, 7th for broiler production, 7th for meat goat production, and 8th for beef cattle.
Broiler chickens are Kentucky's leading commodity.
ACRES MAKING UP 49% OF THE STATE ARE FORESTED. THE STATE'S FOREST AND WOOD INDUSTRY DIRECTLY EMPLOYS 28,000 KENTUCKIANS AND HAS A TOTAL IMPACT OF $12.8 MILLION. 75% OF THE FORESTS ARE FAMILY-OWNED.
There are over 60 small-farm wineries in Kentucky.