Taking A Toll On Bees & New School for Global Animal Health

Taking A Toll On Bees & New School for Global Animal Health plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. The honey bee population is being hit with yet another knockout punch and this one comes from Mother Nature. Jerry Tate, President of the Washington State Beekeepers Association says the cold weather is taking it's toll. TATE: We have been feeding the bees since they came out of California practically weekly and there's been a significant amount of lack of build up in the bees. We've had a few people who are having starvation issues, losing their bees to starvation. The losses to starvation have been fairly small. Beekeepers are making very little if any profit due to having to supplement the bees food. Ground will be broken June 25 for Washington State University's new School for Global Animal Health. The $35 million project includes a $25 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The rest of the money will come from bonds issued by the state and private gifts to the university. The 62,000-square-foot facility will house over 100 research scientists and graduate students, state-of-the-art research and diagnostic laboratories, and will be constructed to exacting LEED environmental standards. Infections transmitted from animals to humans account for more than 70 percent of human infectious diseases. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. When you and I look at a sprig of holly we see a beautiful Christmas symbol and decoration, when certain citizens in the Pacific Northwest look at holly they see a noxious weed, and would like state government to declare it as such. Holly farmers however are screaming foul as this would certainly endanger their livelihood. So why all the uproar over English holly? Reportedly English holly is being found outside of its controlled orchard environment in private yards and along housing development roadways. But does that truly mean holly is an invasive species or does it mean irresponsibility and mismanagement had a hand in the unwelcome spreading of the plant. Many housing developments have been built over old orchards, holly orchards included. If the holly was not removed properly and completely it could return. People also have been known to "acquire" cuttings off plants to use in private settings, then allowing them to go unchecked. Listing holly as a noxious weed is not the answer; that would only result in extensive if not permanent damage to holly growers. How about putting responsibility where it belongs; with housing contractors and developers. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.