Support for the Honeybee

Support for the Honeybee. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.

USDA is starting with only 5 states but they are pumping $8-million dollars into the honeybee issue. Citing population declines in the pollinators that help sustain many of the nation's crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced conservation incentives for farmers and ranchers in Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, who establish new habitats for declining honeybee populations. More than half of the commercially managed honeybees are in those five states during the summer. USDA's Bee Lab research leader, Jeff Pettis talked to lawmakers about diversifying bee's diets.

PETTIS: So if they can get mixed flowers and CRP and other programs can provide that, then they'll do better. So diversifying the agricultural environment through these land management programs, I think, can have a huge impact.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy will be co-chairing the new "Pollinator Health Task Force." The group will research the problem and within six months develop a "National Pollinator Health Strategy." Nathan Rice, USDA bee researcher talks about something town people can do to help honeybees.

RICE: With these window boxes that the People's Garden are starting to implement are good ways to get some nice pollinator-friendly gardens spaces in your home in an urban area without taking up too much space.

More than $15 billion worth of agricultural products — including more than 130 fruits and vegetables — depend on the services of bees for pollination.

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That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.