Colony Collapse Disorder.

United Press International ^ | Feb. 25

[RedAlert]

KALAMAZOO, Mich., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Michigan's $350 million fruit industry is in peril after the recent death of countless honeybees from what is called Colony Collapse Disorder.

Michigan Department of Agriculture official Mike Hansen told the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Gazette that with honeybees dying at an alarming rate in 22 U.S. states the 2007 fruit harvest is at risk.

"Michigan has about 125 crops, and 60 to 65 of those are dependent on honeybee pollination," the state beekeeper said.

With reported losses of bees reaching up to 90 percent in some states, scientists have found no cure for what they labeled Colony Collapse Disorder.

Experts doubt other species of bees and flies could adequate pollinate the fruit crop in time for harvest.

Commodity specialist Ken Nye said that the true impact of the missing honeybees won't be accurately assessed for months.

"In reality, the light is going to go on at the first of May when the migratory beekeeper shows up and says, 'I only have 10 hives for you,'" the Gazette said.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

[RedAlert]

First post, I hope I did it right

[capt. norm]

AS we used to say here in the South, "Ya' done good".

I'm going to stockpile honey before the prices go through the roof.

The good news is that it stores quite well....one of the few natural products that needs no refrigeration or preservatives to keep from spoiling.

[Graybeard58]

I'm going to stockpile honey before the prices go through the roof.

I have a jar in the pantry, that is a stock pile for me.

[PeteB570]

You did fine.

This subject appears to have been "local" news in a number of places over the past few weeks.

We had a story a few weeks back in our paper.

Few realize the problems this could lead to. Bees do a lot of the "heavy lifting" during pollination time.

[Graybeard58]

Welcome abord member number 272,215.

[stboz]

I'm betting it's either mites or a microbe.

[Graybeard58]

I'm betting it's either mites or a microbe.

Global warming.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Or lawn care products. I don't have my lawn sprayed like all my neighbors. It's half weeds, but they're still green!

[College_Libertarian]

First it's polar bears, now bees!!! What's global warming's next victim?

[Clara Lou]

Some scientist on the radio last night said that the bees remaining from the collapsed colonies had multiple problems--fungi was one. I wish I could quote her better.

[stboz]

I doubt it very much. Pesticides in general have become far more pest specific and less persistant. This seems to be very recent...at least the way it's being reported.

[patton]

They found a jar of honey in one of the pyramids, still edible after thousands of years.

[Rushmore Rocks]

A big problem here in So. Dakota, too.

[RightWhale]

It's not just honey and it's not just honeybees. Whatever is causing this, and it might be ourselves spraying this and that on the crops to reduce crop pests, many of the insects that do similar work are also down. GM crops might also have something to do with it.

[staytrue]

GM crops might also have something to do with it.

GM crops are often engineered to have internal pesticides.

[correctthought]

Conga-rats or congratulations, looks good :D

[Moonman62]

The good news is that it stores quite well....one of the few natural products that needs no refrigeration or preservatives to keep from spoiling.

Recently it was discovered that honey produces small amounts of hydrogen pyroxide. That's why it's also good for wound healing.

[lawdude]

"What's global warming's next victim?"

Working Conservatives!

[sitetest]

Welcome to Free Republic.

[Fiddlstix]

Welcome to FR. Ya done good J