Discussion With USDA About Honey Bee Health Survey

Thriving Or Dying

Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a survey about honey bee health which has created quite a stir from bee health advocates as well as beekeepers. The survey implies that honey bee populations are increasing. Meanwhile, beekeepers are expressing concerns about the interpretation of this data. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer discusses the survey with Mr. Joshua O’Rear, an agricultural statistician with USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. His current duties include preparing the estimates for the Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, and Cost of Pollination reports. Stay tuned!

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Neonicotinoids Devastate Australian Beekeepers

I think 90% of the beekeepers now in Australia are watching it very closely. More than 50% of beekeepers in Australia are avoiding almonds, canola, etc.

Many industry apologists adamantly insist that the decline is due to Varroa Mites. While Varroa Mites do greatly impact the health of the colony, it is clearly not the case when it comes to the rapidly declining honeybee population in Australia. Why? Well, there are no Varroa Mites in Australia. So, this is a moot argument in the down under, at least for the time being. What is killing the bees? In this week’s segment of The Neonicotinoid View, host June Stoyer and Colorado beekeeper, Tom Theobald talk to commercial beekeeper, Jeffrey Gibbs about Australia’s honeybee crisis.

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