The Utah Pollinator Habitat Program, administered by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), is currently accepting applications for its 2025 funding cycle. This program aims to combat the sharp decline in pollinator populations by increasing pollinator habitat throughout Utah. The initiative supports projects that enhance landscapes with native plants, improve connectivity between habitats, and expand the availability of pollen and nectar resources for pollinators. The 2025 application window is open from March 1 to April 15, 2025, and applications must be submitted online.

The program is open to a broad range of applicants including individuals, non-profit organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, commercial entities, Native American tribes, wildlife preserves, and land trusts. To be eligible, applicants must own or manage the property on which the habitat improvements will be made, and the project site must be located in Utah. A critical requirement is the ability to provide irrigation for plant establishment. Projects located in habitat corridors or watershed areas with potential for connectivity and those focused on native pollinator species are prioritized.

Awardees will be notified by June 2, 2025, and will receive further guidance in August. Plant distributions will take place in the fall, during September and October, with dates and pickup locations announced later. Plants are regionally pre-selected and provided at no cost to awardees. A required Awardee Webinar will take place in late July. Additionally, past participants from 2022–2024 must submit their annual reports by August 8, 2025.

Interested parties are encouraged to attend a live 2025 Application Process and Program Details Webinar on March 26, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. A recording of the 2024 webinar is also available for reference. The program aims not only to enhance habitat for bees and other pollinators but also to increase public engagement and statewide awareness regarding the importance of pollinators in agriculture and the ecosystem.

For assistance or questions, applicants may contact the program at utpollinatorhabitatprogram@gmail.com. Additional contacts include Mindy Wheeler, Rare Plants Coordinator at Utah State University, reachable at (385) 235-1062 or mindy.wheeler@usu.edu. General inquiries can also be directed to UDAF at (801) 982-2200 or agriculture@utah.gov.