New data reveals massive honey bee die-offs.
USDA reports 60% of commercial colonies lost in California. Mites are fighting back as they become more resistant to treatments, threatening pollinators.
That mass kill-off left bee keepers scrambling this spring.
New research out of Georgia shows just how valuable that pollinating system is to the state’s blueberry crop.
Blueberries were a half a billion dollar crop in Georgia back in 2023. Researchers at the University of Georgia collected more than 5,000 individual bees across eight commercial farms.
They found 72 species, marking the most detailed survey of its kind to date.
They also discovered wild bee activity goes beyond the blueberry bloom, making it important to offer blooming flowers throughout the season.
The spending bill keeps animal health and traceability funding in place while trimming several other USDA accounts.
In an exclusive interview with RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) expresses frustration with delays and increasing political divisions surrounding the bill.
Spring Fieldwork Advances As Weather Stays Uneven
Reliance on vegetable imports remains uneven, with domestic production still anchoring several major categories.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson joins us to discuss rural electric co-ops’ push for expanded USDA loan programs, rising energy demand from data center expansion, wildfire mitigation and other policy priorities impacting rural power infrastructure.
The fifth-generation operation is managing land and cattle with a long-term focus.
