Bayer's Bee Care Program
Bayer's Bee Care Program. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.
We haven't talked about bee health in a while but research is on-going. Bayer's Becky Langer, Manager of the North American Bee Care Program talks about how they are working hard to make sure this pollinator stays healthy.
LANGER: Honeybees are so critical to agriculture that it's a natural pairing for our business. Without the honeybees, we don't have a business so we have a vested interest like many other folks. Many individuals are surprised to hear that Bayer has actually been involved for over 25 years in promoting and protecting the honeybee. We're one of the few agricultural companies that actually market products that are used for the honeybees.
Bayer has developed miticide's that are used in the hives to combat varroa mite and others. Langer says Bayer has made a major commitment to bee health.
LANGER: In 2014 we'll invest more than $20-million dollars in our bee care program. That includes our new bee care facility which opened up recently in Raleigh, NC at our U.S. headquarters. That's a 6000 square foot facility which is supporting research and education initiatives and then the $12-million investment also goes toward that research that will take place in the facility as well as staffing it with a dynamic group of individuals which have expertise ranging from honeybee research to even biodiversity.
That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
