A recent surge in bee losses is now impacting Texas beekeepers and may ultimately impact the price to produce.
Since June, commercial beekeepers in Texas have lost nearly two-thirds of their bee colonies.
Nationwide, those financial losses have totaled $635 million. Many now worry it will have a trickle-down effect on fruits and vegetables like watermelons and berries.
While no clear cause for the losses has been pinpointed, mites, pathogens, pesticides, and poor nutrition among bees would all play a role.
Related Stories
Focused on Farm Bill: National Farmers Union says legislation delay is creating an uncertain economy
“The farm economy is, if it isn’t in a crisis, it’s well on its way to one right now.”
Dairy farmers are expected to face strong output and export gains, but lower prices and tighter margins will persist into next year.
With the latest detection just across the border, animal health officials on both sides are intensifying efforts to contain the outbreak before it spreads further north.
The USDA NASS report also confirms lower August placements.
While symbolic, the WTO’s youth hackathon reflects growing calls for creative approaches to food trade and security, with potential implications for reducing losses, expanding biofuel markets, and stabilizing grain flows.