bees

Costco has announced their very first bee policy in which they call for limits on the use of bee-killing pesticides and encourage use of eco-friendly methods of pest or disease control.   In the policy, Costco recognized that the bee population is declining and that bees are necessary to sustain life.  ...

The Washington State Beekeeper Association has named Tim Hiatt as their 2016 Beekeeper of the Year.   Hiatt was praised for his work with legislators, government entities and others on passing bee-friendly laws, building bee-friendly projects, and more, something he said is critical.  ...

Researchers at Oregon State University have determined that urban areas can be a host to a wide variety of bees, and that cities can play a critical role in benefitting pollinators.   Gail Langellotto said cities can be biodiversity hot spots.  ...

Despite the recent endangered listing of a Hawaii-specific bee species, the Washington Post says bees are doing just fine.  In a report this week, a Washington Post blog said the endangered species only accounts for a handful of relatively obscure species that live in Hawaii.  Wi...

A species of bees in on the Endangered Species list for the first time in American history.  A CNN report says seven bee species native to Hawaii are on the protected list as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service added yellow-faced bees to the list after years of research showed they are endangered.  ...

The federal Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list rusty patch bumble bees under the Endangered Species Act because of declining populations.  Agri-Pulse reports the proposed rule was scheduled to be published in the Federal Register Thursday.  Pe...

Washington State University will kick off a fundraising campaign Friday to build a Bee and pollinator Research Center on the Pullman Campus.  To help launch the effort in the right direction WSU Provost, and former Interim President Dan Bernardo has agreed dawn a bee beard Friday afternoon.  Be...

So much of agriculture depends on pollination, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture is reminding residents that they can grow plants that are bee friendly.   Rose Kachadoorian, an entomologist with the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Pesticides Program said it’s important to offer a balanced garden.   “We see...

The USDA released a report with numbers showing an eight percent decline in bee colonies since the first quarter of last year.   Dan Kerestes of the National Agricultural Statistics Service said the reason for the decline should not shock any beekeeper.  ...

Earlier this week, Washington First Lady Trudi Inslee was joined by members from the Olympia Beekeepers Association to dedicate new hives constructed outside the Governor’s Mansion.  An estimated 30,000 honeybees were installed in those new hives.  Inslee s...