Posted on 03/17/2007 12:56:27 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
Earth Liberation Front
Hives that are in areas where the colonies are widely separated...... enough to, at least, slow down this "bee plague".
It's almost a parallel to how small businesses are really the backbone of our economy.
If you want some really great tasting honey, find some from the Central Valley of CA where they grow all those roses.
You will drool while you get the whipped butter and the warm, freshly baked bagels to put the honey on. And hot English Black tea with a dash of Limoncino del choistro in it. Bears have taste.
They probably could do it, but you haven't ever had an adrenaline/pain experience like being stung by one (I have, by just one of them)...I can only imagine it must be like to be stung by a swarm.
I had invested for a short while in transgenic chickens. Sounds kind of riske; maybe it is.
and here in NW Florida, we get Tupelo honey from beekeepers along the Apalachicola River.
I read somewhere that eating honey produced in your locale helped strengthen your resistance to local things you may be a bit allergic to.
It sure seems to work that way and in the biblical sense, maybe the Lord set that in motion. It has always worked for my family.
I love Iowa honey, but I insist on local honey for my family, except for special recipes or whatever where it doesn't make any difference.
They're coming up from Mexico to polinate the flowers American bees won't...
It's got to make you wonder. Not many are going to argue with high crop yield, but having just one species of anything for acre after acre is definitely not nature's way.
They're coming up from Mexico to polinate the flowers American bees won't...
Whoaaaaa! LOL broadside.
Man the life-boats!
It might be. Square tomatoes and peppers are one thing that doesn't seem dangerous, but when they get into molecular structure and DNA we can't even hope they really know what they are doing.
Ah aims tuh please...
*gasp and points* you are a racist for using that name! It clear that by calling killer bees Africanized, you are calling Afrincan black people violent. /sarc
Saw bowling for columbine with a left wing roommate. He and Michael Moore believe this.
The cranberry growers here in Massachusetts had their annual meeting recently, and this turned up to be a significant problem for them as well. Who a thunk that honey bees pollinate cranberries?
How do they get those SCUBA tanks over their tiny wings?
Yes, I recall that now that you mention it. [I listen to that show to put myself to sleep. Works like a charm.]
It's a goldmine. TONS of ore, ounces of gold...
how does one determine their member #?
Click your screen name, then click "in forum" your number will be in the address bar on the right side.
cool! thanks!
Fireweed honey is the best in my opinion.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.