Row crops, such as soybeans, that make up much of the landcover of Midwestern farms do not typically provide floral resources for animal pollinators. However, the habitat surrounding these crops could offer valuable forage for pollinating insects. In this study, we surveyed flowering plant species and visiting bee species on soybean-adjacent habitats of varying floral quality throughout southern Wisconsin. We measured bee species abundance and richness in relation to flower abundance and forb species richness, and compared the temporal availability of floral resources in habitat types. Additionally, we compared soybean management practices at study sites to assess correlations between farming methods and visiting bee populations. Habitats with higher floral abundance and forb species richness tended to have higher bee abundance, while floral abundance and bee abundance were both lowest in the beginning of the summer growing season. There were no effects of farm management practices on flowers or bees. These results suggest that row crop-adjacent areas managed for pollinator habitat should include diverse forb species, especially those that flower earlier during the summer. Seed mixes should also be designed to ensure floral resource availability throughout the entirety of the growing season. These habitat improvements could support more pollinators in agricultural landscapes in the Midwest.
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