bees

According to the USDA, elevated winter colony losses have not resulted in enduring declines in colony numbers.  Instead, the number of U.S. honey bee colonies is either stable or growing depending on the dataset being considered.   USDA said at the state level, loss rates are uncorrelated with year-to-year changes in the number of colonies, suggesting that beekeepers are able to replace lost colon

A new study shows being lazy about mowing your lawn actually does some good work in helping your local bees and other pollinators.   "Doing good by not doing much," says Susannah Lerman Forest Service Wildlife Biologist. Working with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the Forest Service found during a 2-year study on lawns in Springfield Massachusetts that the less-frequently yo

Many backyard hobbyists, or new beekeepers get started by ordering a package of bees in the mail.   David Tarpy of North Carolina State University Extension said those bees are all domestic.   “They’re not shipped globally because they don’t want to pass along diseases or anything so this is all within the U.S. where the package indust...

The number of bee colonies in the U.S. on January 1st of 2016 versus one year later was very similar.   USDA Statistician Joshua O’Rear said that number doesn’t tell the whole story.   “That doesn’t actually measure the full magnitude of the losses because there are also colonies added back during the year. For instance, during 2016 we pea...

The USDA will be expanding a pilot program that offered a new safety net option for beekeepers called the Apiculture Insurance Plan.   Acting Administrator of USDA's Risk Management Agency Heather Manzano said it does not cover against colony collapse or disease.  ...

Have you noticed that beekeepers tend to wear beige, white, tan or similar color outfits?   Jay Evans with USDA’s Research Lab said there is some evidence that the color of a person’s shirt could cause a reaction from a bee.   “There’...

Oregon is home to about 500 species of native bees, something that’s critical for the state’s ag industry and many in the state are proudly celebrating National Pollinator Week this week.   Sarah Kincaid, an entomologist and bee specialist with the Oregon Department of Agriculture said, “There’s a real symbiotic relationship between many of the crops we produce here and bees. The crops are providi

In a major shift in the market, retailers Walmart and True Value have announced that they will stop carrying neonicotinoid pesticides due to their possible harmful effects to bees.   Both companies are also ceasing the use of those pesticides in their home and garden sections of the store for the plants they sell.  ...

Monsanto announced it has reached milestones in two key aspects of its biodiversity program, including protecting species and promoting sustainable landscapes.  Monsanto established 72 habitats for monarch butterflies and other pollinators at company sites across America.  Th...

Beekeepers and brokers in Washington can now file their 2017 registrations with the WSDA which is due by April 1st.   Pest Program Outreach Coordinator Karla Salp said the money they get from these registrations helps beekeepers throughout the state.  ...