Washington Whispers: Feds Are Split on Funding for the Honey Bee Crisis
Reader Comments
Bee Funding 2008 Farm Bill
http://goesdownbitter.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/bees-disappear/
I used your article as a jumping off point for information about what's bee-ing done and what's not about this crisis. I noted that the just passed farm bill offers funding, but not enough. If you have any more information to share with our readers in the Bitter Hinterlands, we'd appreciate the updates.
Bees
F YOU GET ANY MORE NEWS PUT ON THE BLOG IF I DON'T PUT MY GRAMRE RIGHT THAT IS BECAUSE I AM ONLY 8. iF YOU GET RESENT NEWS THEN PUT IT UP.
Bees
F YOU GET ANY MORE NEWS PUT ON THE BLOG IF I DON'T PUT MY GRAMRE RIGHT THAT IS BECAUSE I AM ONLY 8. iF YOU GET RESENT NEWS THEN PUT IT UP.
Secretary Schafer did know about the bee loss
These losses were reported to the Department of Agriculture in 1996. Seven people suffered losses at that time and reported it to the Dept. of Ag, ND, and received no help. I believe you could find the problem if you look through the Product Use Guide, which is put out by the chemical companies, and look for the word 'neonicotinold'. If this chemical will kill crawfish in rice fields the second year, the honey bee does not stand a chance.
Secretary Schafer's Bee Advocacy
As a life-long North Dakotan and a beekeeper for 39 years let me assure anyone who is interested that there has never been an advocate for the bee industry in North Dakota state government and rarely a state bureaucrat with anything but utter disdain for the industry. If somehow China or Mexico could benefit then possibly Secretary Schafer's interest and that of this administration might be aroused.
Secretary Schafer's remarks on CCD
Ed Schafer is the son of a wealthy, well-known ND entrepreneur. His great distinction, other than being elected governor on his father's name, is that he ran a fish farm that went broke.
George Bush is the son of a wealthy, well-known CT aristocrat. His great distinction.... need I go on?
Don't expect anything from people who have never accomplished anything on their own.
Sec. of Agriculture comments.
The Secretary's comments are unfortunate.
CCD is a real problem.
We may be facing 'death by a thousand paper cuts'.
It isn't just pesticides.
It isn't just parasites.
It isn't just loss of habitat.
It isn't just beekeepers.
It isn't just stress on beehives.
A combination of exposures weakens hives.
I am hopeful proactive work by Project Apis M;
UC Davis' revitalized work;
personnel now at work on the problem
can shed light on solutions.
Bashing the Secretary may not be the most productive action.
Working together, we can solve problems.
Buy a jar of honey.
Make a donation.
Vituperative runaway rant unbridled by reason or factuality.
At this very moment, many countries around the world are puzzled and baffled by CCD symptoms in their countries. Having been in 6 European countries this spring alone, I have witnessed huge bee losses, up to 100%, among 5th and 6th generation beekeepers who know and live beekeeping; their symptoms mimic CCD. Our CCD epidemic in America is now being witnessed by others around the world. We see food rationing on American soil for the first time in decades. With the demise of the honeybee in America and Europe, and certainly to be experienced in other parts of the world as well, it seems a bit sophomoric to pin the world's food supply on limited if not non-existent research. When America steps up to the plate and addresses a catastrophic epidemic like CCD, we typically pull out all the stops. America and the World needs researchers and research facilities funded to analyze, test, investigate, and eventually arrive at answers which lead to solutions. America is the bread basket of the world. We do export Billions of dollars of food products each year. With the demise of the primary pollinator, the Honey Bee, you will see America become dependent on others to supply our countries food needs.
I am sure I would not want to be labeled as the Sec. of Ag. that decided Florida Citrus, California Almonds, Washington Apples, Maine Blueberries, Strawberries, Hay crops, Vegetables, (as much as 2/3 of the produce isle in your local grocery store), were not important to the lives of Americans.
I strongly urge Sec. Ed Schafer to reconsider his position concerning CCD Research Funding and enthusiastically support the future of American Agriculture.
