Collapsing Colonies: Four ‘P’s are to blame for bee deaths

Bee colonies are collapsing nationwide, leaving beekeepers with few answers.

Leaders at Project Apis M say bee deaths usually fit into our ‘P’ categories.

” That’s parasites: we know that there’s a mite that is killing bees, and it’s been a problem now and a primary management problem for beekeepers for decades. That mite feeds on the blood of bees and acts like a dirty needle spreading viruses, and those viruses are becoming increasingly detrimental,” Danielle Downey tells aginfo.net.

Pesticides and poor nutrition are the last two. Downey says her research over the last couple of weeks shows 41 percent of the nation’s bees died over the winter.

Related Stories
Heavier cattle and hog weights helped offset lower slaughter, but overall beef and pork production remained below year-ago levels.
Productivity gains helped offset a smaller breeding herd, keeping overall U.S. pork supplies relatively steady
Shaun Haney says the new blending targets could support ethanol demand as farmers face tight margins and strong export competition.
National Pork Producers Council’s Trish Cook joins us to discuss Farm Bill differences between chambers, Prop 12 concerns, and pork industry priorities moving forward.
Charles Krause says farm tours, consumer education and growing demand for dairy protein are creating new opportunities for the industry.
Ben Pratt with The Mosaic Company joins us to discuss sulfur market disruptions, fertilizer production challenges, global supply chain impacts, and implications for farmers planning future input needs.