Pollinators are essential to agriculture and protecting pollinators is one of our industry’s top concerns. Bees, birds, butterflies and other beneficial insects pollinate more than 75 percent of the country’s flowering plants. Approximately one-third of the crops used to produce foods and beverages are dependent on pollinators, representing nearly $20 billion on crop value annually in the U.S. Many of the products our industry makes contribute to enhancing bee health, such as mite-fighting pesticides, drought mitigation technology to increase food for pollinators, and products that support increased bee forage. We work hard every day to improve pollinator health.
Since 2006, surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have reported bee colony losses ranging up to 35%, and there are reported high apparent losses in the spring of 2013. Some of these losses are attributed by beekeepers to a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a complicated issue that has no one direct identified cause. It is clear that bee health needs to be improved. Industry, applicators, growers, academia, regulators and beekeepers all have a vested stake in improving bee health.
Science suggests multiple factors are responsible for overall poor bee health:
- Parasites (Varroa and tracheal mites);
- Nutrition failures;
- Weather patterns and changing climate;
- Beekeeping management practices;
- Diseases (Nosema, bacteria and viruses);
- Pesticides (when used incorrectly);
- Lack of genetic diversity; and
- Queen failure.
Recent reports have cited certain crop protection products, such as neonicotinoids, as a potential leading cause of bee colony loss. Neonicotinoid insecticides have been used in the United States for many years without significant effects on populations of honeybees. The principal use of neonicotinoids as seed treatment keeps exposure to honey bees to a minimum, and replaces riskier methods for controlling insect pests of crops. Continual efforts are underway to reduce the small risks even further.
Ongoing research and field studies have consistently found no adverse effects on colonies when these products are applied in the field according to label directions. In contrast, lab and semi-field studies are often conducted at exaggerated rates that do not mimic the real-world exposure that pollinators face. Recent difficulties for bee hives and beekeepers are likely an unfortunate combination of multiple risk factors (weather, nutrition, disease, parasites) not involving any increase in risk due to neonicotinoid use.
Our industry continues to examine a range of research into the impact of crop protection products on bees and other beneficial insects, focusing on the real-world conditions to which they are exposed in nature.
Improving honey bee health is a top priority of CLA and its members. CLA supports increased practical research focused on arthropod pests, pathogens, nutrition, pesticides, bee biology, genetics, and breeding; activities to increase habitat for honey bees, wildlife and other pollinators; wise stewardship of bee protection and crop protection products, best management practices and training. All of these represent important steps in supporting improved bee health.
