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
Experts estimate the flooding from Hurricane Helene caused more than $1.3 billion in damage to Tennessee agriculture.
Pressure to lower gas prices across the Golden State could be the saving grace of this year’s corn harvest. California may soon be the final U.S. state to approve E-15 sales.
Both Congressional Ag Committees took up the bill over the summer, but there’s no word on when the Senate could move forward; it does expire on September 30.
Keir Albert of Albert Acres Cattle Company joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his journey into raising Texas Longhorn cattle and the reason behind his trip to Kenya.