Dear Mr. Nguyen, Several years ago, my wife approached me about keeping bees in our backyard. I had never considered it, but I like the idea of micro-farming, so after we discussed some concerns (Can we keep bees in the city? Will we get stung? Will the kids be afraid to play outside?) I encouraged her to go ahead with it. The bees did make the kids nervous at first, but now they’re part of the home routine. They don’t bother us at all, and we get to enjoy their sweet honey. And we benefit from their pollinating with strawberries, raspberries, and apples. So do the neighbors. Bees are astonishing creatures – and Nebraska’s state insect. Living with a beekeeper has made me appreciate their extraordinary work, and how essential they are to our food production. Even a lot of phrases from our vocabulary comes from their habits: making a beeline, what’s the buzz about, the queen bee, and droning – on and on. Unfortunately, beekeeping is becoming increasingly difficult, with challenges from parasites like varroa mites, and diseases like nosema, and the mysterious colony collapse disorder (CCD) in which bees in a colony seem to vanish without a trace. In a recent town meeting in Bellevue the very first question was about America’s declining bee population. I told the young woman it was fascinating that she would raise that concern in light of all the other things going on in the world. People are concerned, and rightly so. America’s honey bees have been declining at a disturbing rate since 2006, and the reasons for their decline remain largely undetermined. The United States Department of Agricultures (USDA) 2013-2014 winter survey of honey bee colonies showed total losses from all causes at 23.2 percent nationwide. This rate of decline is an improvement over several recent winters, but the numbers are still troubling. The disappearance of billions of bees from commercial hives could ravage entire crops like apples and almonds, leading to a potentially stinging rise in food prices. In a world without bees, the produce section of the grocery store would look a lot different. Neither scientists nor beekeepers have solved this troubling riddle. The USDA named CCD as the culprit, but CCD does little more than label the breakdown in healthy hive activity. More clear is that the issue is complex, and likely causes range from parasites to poor nutrition, to certain chemicals in the environment, and to loss of habitat. To imagine a world without bees you might look to southwest China. Farmers in that region now pollinate fields by hand, using brushes on crops that honey bees once tended. Wild bees, suffering from the mysterious malady that has plagued bee populations across the globe, are now nearly extinct, and have been replaced with human laborers. This alarming development offers a glimpse into a potential future where bees cannot survive – a scenario that would cause serious environmental and economic harm. Since this problem was detected, Congress has directed research and conservation programs designed to help honey bees and other pollinators. I am a cosponsor of the Highways BEE Act, created to support these efforts. This legislation will help states reduce roadside maintenance costs, while also providing critical habitats for pollinators, such as bees. The House Appropriations Committee, on which I serve, recognizes the gravity of the challenges affecting pollinators and has directed USDA to continue focusing on this issue and to expand beekeeper surveys. Nebraskans are taking the problem seriously – by becoming backyard beekeepers. If you’re potentially interested in raising bees yourself, I encourage you to contact our local cooperative extension services for classes or the Nebraska Beekeepers Association. Both organizations have been very helpful for us in launching our backyard project. I understand Southeast Community College also offers a class. We’ve faced challenges and lost a few colonies, but overall the hives have been a welcome addition to our yard. And our pantry. Sincerely, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry P.S. If you would like to send my office an email reply, please visit my website, Fortenberry.house.gov, or communicate with me on my Facebook and Twitter pages.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 04:21:07 +0000
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