bees

According to the USDA, honey production in 2015 dropped 12% in operations with five or more bee colonies.   The USDA report released Tuesday shows United States honey production in 2015 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 157 million pounds.  There w...

The National Association of State Directors of Agriculture wrapped a symposium on honey bees and other pollinators last week to highlight the importance of Managed Pollinator Protection Plans.   The MP3 Symposium brought together more than 130 stakeholders from across the country to participate in the development and implementation of their state’s MP3 Plan.   N...

NEW YORK, NY -- A report by the United Nations released last week says the decline in bee populations is likely to continue unless humans change their behavior.  Bee colonies have been collapsing in many parts of the globe, and the report, Global Bee Colony Disorders and other Threats to Insect Pollinators, cites more than a dozen potential factors. ...

Spring is not far off and soon farmers of all kinds will be working meticulously to protect their crops, and that includes some pesticide treatments.   WSU Director of the Honey Bee Health Program Dr. Timothy Lawrence said it’s important to read and follow the label directions explicitly.   H...

Currently most beekeepers have taken their hives to California to pollinate this year’s almond crop, but many will turn their eyes to Northwest tree fruit in the next couple of weeks.   Dr. Timothy Lawrence said their popularity comes from the fact that they are perfect pollinators with, “Their hairy bodies, their ability to buzz helps facilitate the distribution of the pollen from the anthers on

The Washington State Beekeepers Association is reminding apiarists to register their hives with the Washington State Department of Agriculture.   They warn that failure to register could result in less money for research, maintains fairness amongst beekeepers, and gets an accurate picture of the industry in Washington.  ...