** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** COMMERCIAL BEEKEEPERS PROVIDE THE VAST MAJORITY OF POLLINATION SERVICES NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN POLLINATION-DEPENDENT CROP PRODUCTION IN THE US. SIMILAR TO MUCH OF THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR, THOSE COMMERCIAL BEEKEEPERS ARE DEPENDENT ON SPANISH SPEAKING HISPANIC/LATINX AND H-2A LABOR. THE SKILL, EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION OF LABORERS WITHIN BEEKEEPING OPERATIONS HAS PROFOUND IMPACTS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF THE INDUSTRY. STAKEHOLDERS HAVE IDENTIFIED A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BEE BIOLOGY, COMMON PESTS AND DISEASES, AND BEE MANAGEMENT AS A MAJOR HURDLE FOR CURRENT AND INCOMING EMPLOYEES. THE LACK OF CURRENTLY AVAILABLE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR TRAINING THESE INDIVIDUALS (ESPECIALLY MATERIAL IN SPANISH) LIMITS THE ABILITY OF EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CREW TRAINING. AS A RESULT, EMPLOYEES ARE LESS ABLE TO MAKE CRITICAL DECISIONS IN THE FIELD THAT COULD ENHANCE COLONY HEALTH AND SURVIVAL IN THESE OPERATIONS.THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS THIS INADEQUACY INEXISTING CREW TRAINING MATERIALS BY DEVELOPING DIGESTIBLE TRAINING VIDEOS, BACKED BY PEER-REVIEWED, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DELIVERED BY EXPERIENCED, NATIVE SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMERCIAL BEEKEEPER EMPLOYEES. WE PROPOSE TO PRODUCE A SERIES OF THREE VIDEO MODULES (EACH CONTAINING 4-6 SHORT VIDEOS) THAT WILL INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE OF INDIVIDUAL BEEKEEPER EMPLOYEES. THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL WILL BE DELIVERED VIA ONLINE CONTENT AND ADVERTISED VIA NATIONAL AND REGIONAL BEEKEEPER MEETINGS. WE WILL ALSO ASSESS THE RETENTION OF CRITICAL INFORMATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE TRAINING MATERIALS IN IMPROVEMENT IN BEEKEEPING OPERATIONS VIA SURVEYS. BEEKEEPER CREW MEMBERS MAKE MANY DAILY DECISIONS IN THE FIELD THAT CUMULATIVELY RESULT IN MAJOR IMPACTS ON THE SUSTAINABILITY AND QUALITY OF THE US COMMERCIAL POLLINATION FORCE AS A WHOLE. ADDRESSING THIS CRITICAL NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CREW TRAINING IN CORE BIOLOGICAL, MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY KNOWLEDGE WILL THEREFORE HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THIS AGRICULTURAL SECTOR. ULTIMATELY, IMPROVING THE KNOWLEDGE AND SAFETY OF THIS WORKFORCE WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS CRITICAL SECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND THOSE THAT DEPEND ON POLLINATION.