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DarkSteven -> Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 9:50:07 AM)

I find this odd. There have been a lot of claims that, should the honeybee population be decimated, we'd have a serious problem with food availability and prices. I've heard that especially in regards to Colony Collapse Disorder.

Well, we actually HAVE that decimation. Beekeepers make a substantial portion of their income trucking bees around to country to provide crop pollination. This year, the almond crop, the first commercially pollinated crop of the season, has killed off a substantial portion of the bees using USDA and EAP approved pesticides. Link.

The feds refuse to accept any responsibility. The almond growers state that they used pesticides in full compliance with requirements.

Oddly, very little media coverage. But as a backyard beekeeper, I can tell you that apiculturists are furious.



stef -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 10:14:44 AM)

THANKS OBAMA!



DaddySatyr -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 10:21:07 AM)

I don't keep bees. In fact, I'm allergic to bee stings but, I remember hearing, years ago, that the wild honey bee population in NJ had been almost completely wiped out by a mite.

I'm going back something like 10-15 years. I do know that we saw a tremendous rise in honey prices but I didn't see the same type of rise in tomato, corn, or cranberry prices. Those are three of New Jersey's main crops/ag exports.

Again, I'm not up on "bee stuff" but, I would be willing to be educated.

It seems to me that you're saying that bees may face this same issue in just about any state, pollinating just about any crop because the pesticides are all federally "approved"?







Screen captures still RULE! Ya feel me?



FelineRanger -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 10:21:37 AM)

Each political party hasn't figured out a way to blame this on the other one so there's no news coverage. As soon as Republicans figure out a way to blame it on Democrats (or vice versa) it will be all over the news.



DesideriScuri -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 10:21:42 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven
I find this odd. There have been a lot of claims that, should the honeybee population be decimated, we'd have a serious problem with food availability and prices. I've heard that especially in regards to Colony Collapse Disorder.
Well, we actually HAVE that decimation. Beekeepers make a substantial portion of their income trucking bees around to country to provide crop pollination. This year, the almond crop, the first commercially pollinated crop of the season, has killed off a substantial portion of the bees using USDA and EAP approved pesticides. Link.
The feds refuse to accept any responsibility. The almond growers state that they used pesticides in full compliance with requirements.
Oddly, very little media coverage. But as a backyard beekeeper, I can tell you that apiculturists are furious.


How 'bout we pay $10.10/hr. for people to pollinate by hand?

All kidding aside, that article is scary.



DomKen -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 10:24:03 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr
I'm going back something like 10-15 years. I do know that we saw a tremendous rise in honey prices but I didn't see the same type of rise in tomato, corn, or cranberry prices. Those are three of New Jersey's main crops/ag exports.

Only one of those crops is pollinated by bees, the cranberries. And they don't count on wild bees to do it.



Musicmystery -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 12:19:47 PM)

Magic fairies pollinate the rest.




Musicmystery -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 12:22:47 PM)

Anecdotally, I haven't seen a honey bee here in years. Those tiny sweat bees and bumblebees pollinate my apricots in spring, and wasps are active in the garden most of the summer, along with bumblebees and a few mud bees. I've seen fewer and fewer wasps and mud bees, though, for whatever reason.

But honey bees? Not a one, that I've seen.

Last winter killed off some friends' backyard bee hives in neighboring counties.



DarkSteven -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 1:10:44 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr

I don't keep bees. In fact, I'm allergic to bee stings but, I remember hearing, years ago, that the wild honey bee population in NJ had been almost completely wiped out by a mite.

I'm going back something like 10-15 years. I do know that we saw a tremendous rise in honey prices but I didn't see the same type of rise in tomato, corn, or cranberry prices. Those are three of New Jersey's main crops/ag exports.

Again, I'm not up on "bee stuff" but, I would be willing to be educated.

It seems to me that you're saying that bees may face this same issue in just about any state, pollinating just about any crop because the pesticides are all federally "approved"?





The Varroa mite. I didn't know it had damaged feral bees to that extent, but it's certainly a pest.

As Ken said, tomatoes and corn are not honeybee pollinated. Except for buckwheat, no grains are bee pollinated.

Even if they were honeybee pollinated, the pollination fee is likely a minor component of crop prices.


quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Anecdotally, I haven't seen a honey bee here in years. Those tiny sweat bees and bumblebees pollinate my apricots in spring, and wasps are active in the garden most of the summer, along with bumblebees and a few mud bees. I've seen fewer and fewer wasps and mud bees, though, for whatever reason.

But honey bees? Not a one, that I've seen.

Last winter killed off some friends' backyard bee hives in neighboring counties.


I visited Rapid City, SD last year. No honeybees.

The summers of 2011 and 2012 were brutally hot and dry, so plants didn't produce a lot of nectar. Cold winters completed the bee kill. Summer 2013 and winter 2013-2014 were a lot better for bees.







DaddySatyr -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 2:18:11 PM)

I looked up the Varroa but, the way I heard the tale, that wasn't it. This was a mite that didn't attach to the outside of the body but, instead, it blocked their breathing passages (lungs, maybe?)








quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

The Varroa mite. I didn't know it had damaged feral bees to that extent, but it's certainly a pest.





Screen captures still RULE! Ya feel me?



DomKen -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 2:35:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Magic fairies pollinate the rest.



Corn is strictly wind pollinated and tomatoes are pollinated mostly by the wind and sometimes by bumblebees. You can look it up if you don't believe me.



DomKen -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 2:44:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven
I visited Rapid City, SD last year. No honeybees.

The summers of 2011 and 2012 were brutally hot and dry, so plants didn't produce a lot of nectar. Cold winters completed the bee kill. Summer 2013 and winter 2013-2014 were a lot better for bees.

I spoke to an urban apiculturist last year who claimed that hives in the city were doing well since they were not being moved around and being exposed to so much pesticide. I know I do see more bees here than I do when I visit my relatives in rural Alabama.



cloudboy -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 8:38:47 PM)

Is is not true that Europe is ahead of the USA on this curve, banning such pesticides that harm honey bees?

Robert Reich has argued in Super Capitalism that there is very little if any public interest legislation passing in WASH DC because all lawmaking is now controlled by high paid lobbyists and special interests.

Do you feel that Bee Keepers lack a big corporate interest (Argri-business for example) to make the issue relevant to Congress?



Musicmystery -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/20/2014 8:40:40 PM)

They do. That's why they've been subsidized for so long (and why the government always has surplus honey).



cloudboy -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/21/2014 5:58:28 AM)


Why no actions on the pesticides, then?



tj444 -> RE: Beepocalypse (4/21/2014 3:27:56 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven
Well, we actually HAVE that decimation. Beekeepers make a substantial portion of their income trucking bees around to country to provide crop pollination. This year, the almond crop, the first commercially pollinated crop of the season, has killed off a substantial portion of the bees using USDA and EAP approved pesticides. Link.


I hate to say it but I think its gonna get worse since now it seems that Monsanto and its gmo garbage is causing a resistance in weeds and bugs.. which means the Monsanto addicted farmers will use even more pesticides/herbicides.. Monsanto's "solution" is to have a small part of the gmo farms growing regular non-gmo seeds, which I don't think will work.. And why not just not grow all non-gmo in the first place? (of course Monsanto doesn't want that or anyone to even think that!)

http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/genetic-engineering/promoting-resistant-pests.html

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/18/is-monsanto-company-wrong-about-pest-resistance.aspx



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