Little pollinators play big role in agriculture production

The aromatic fields of lavender bursting into full-on purple bloom at Hope Hill Lavender Farm owe their vibrant display to more than sunshine and soil. They depend on tiny but powerful allies: Bees and butterflies. As pollinators flitter from blossom to blossom, they play a crucial role in securing both flower quality and crop yield for the lavender at Hope Hill and surrounding farms.

On a rainy Sunday morning Wendy Jochems — who owns Hope Hill Lavender Farm with her husband Troy — works in the field to harvest lavender which will be steeped into essential oil. In the background, honey bee hives are hard at work, as well.

“You might not see too many butterflies today, but the bumblebees and honey bees will be out,” Wendy said.

Meanwhile, Troy is at the location’s farm store greeting customers and gathering up visitors for the next tour of the farm.

“We have about 15 acres we’re actively growing here. And while lavender is not dependent on cross pollination, which bees do very well, the bees are very important to our honey production,” Troy said. “When we started farming lavender the bees just showed up. The bees keep pretty much to themselves but they also help out the farms surrounding us that have fruit crops that depend on cross pollination. By giving the bees a good home here the entire valley benefits.”

The couple purchased the farmland in 2004, and started the business in 2011.

Today, Hope Hill Lavender Farm is home to rows of lavender, friendly farm animals and a farm store that sells a wide array of lavender goods, from soap and lotion to ice cream, vinegar, oils and artisan-made pottery.

Visitors can enjoy self-guided or guided tours during operating hours, which vary by season.

The lavender grown in the fields is harvested and combined with the honey sourced from the farm’s honey bee hives and sold as lavender infused honey at the Hope Hill Farm Shop.




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Wendy Jochems works in the field harvesting lavender which will be used in making various products, including tea, honey, and lavender ice cream, and essential oil. It takes 11 pounds of lavender flowers to make one ounce of lavender essential oil. Wendy and her husband Troy Jochems started farming lavender in 2011. At Hope Hill Lavender Farm Sunday morning July 13, 2025. (JOHNATHAN B. PAROBY/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Bees in agriculture: A backbone of food production

Bees aren’t just important to lavender farms. They are responsible for pollinating more than 100 crops in North America, including apples, blueberries, cucumbers, pumpkins, and almonds. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about one third of the food consumed in the U.S. depends on pollination, either directly or indirectly.

In economic terms, pollinators contribute an estimated $15 billion annually to crop production in the United States.

Honeybees are often brought in as managed pollinators for large-scale farming, while native species like bumblebees and solitary bees often work quietly in the background, especially on smaller farms.

Without pollinators, many fruits and vegetables would see reduced yields, lower quality, and increased prices at market. Even crops not directly pollinated by insects, such as alfalfa used in livestock feed, can be affected through disrupted food chains.
Pennsylvania bee populations under pressure

In Pennsylvania and across North America, pollinators face a growing crisis. Beekeepers nationwide lost an estimated 62% of their honeybee colonies between June 2024 and February 2025 — an unprecedented toll that affects roughly 1.1 million colonies. In 2025, losses may reach as high as 70%, driven by varroa mite infestations, pesticides, viral disease, and climate stress.

In Pennsylvania, about 80% of crops rely on insect pollination, with honey bees as the most common pollinators.

Yet native bumblebees are also suffering serious declines. The American bumblebee has seen populations in Pennsylvania drop by nearly 90% since 2000, and is now listed as a vulnerable species.
Impact on lavender growers

Lavender farmers depend on a healthy mix of managed honeybees and wild pollinators.

Honeybee colony losses threaten growers’ access to rental hives, potentially compromising crop performance. Meanwhile, diminished wild bee numbers reduce pollination diversity, which can affect the robustness of lavender yields over time.
Efforts to safeguard pollinators

In response, Pennsylvania has enacted measures under its Pollinator Protection Plan, focusing on preserving habitats and restricting pesticide use in sensitive areas.

Research institutions, including Penn State’s Center for Pollinator Research, are studying best farming practices to support both honeybees and native species.

Farmers are encouraged to plant pollinator-friendly buffer strips, avoid chemical sprays during bloom and provide water sources to enhance insect survival.

At Hope Hill Lavender Farm, efforts have increased over the years to help the local bee population.

“We have about three acres set aside for growing native wild flowers, near our lavender fields, to help the health of the local bee population,” Troy Jochems said. “This is part of a program in conjunction with the NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service) and the USDA to help established pollinator crops survive.”

For the latest info about visiting and open hours at Hope Hill Lavender Farm visit online at www.https://hopehilllavenderfarm.com