What’s the buzz on Colorado honey bees?

    Bee pollinators play a crucial role in natural and agricultural ecosystems and contribute over $200 billion in revenue from vegetable, fruit and nut production in the United States. To gain a better understanding of current honey bee health in Colorado, the Colorado Department of Agriculture has taken part in the National Honey Bee Health Survey for the last three years.
    “Scientific surveys and research on honey bee health bear out that the past decade has been challenging for beekeeping with a decline in managed hives in the U.S.,” said Laura Pottorff, CDA Division of Plant Industry’s apiary program manager. “Honey bees are a crucial part of our environment, and the national survey provides a valuable insight into the state of managed honey bees in Colorado.”
    The survey is an initiative sponsored by United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service and the Bee Informed Partnership. Honey bee researchers agree that there are many factors responsible for the challenges facing the valuable pollinator, including:
    —Infectious pests and diseases of managed honey bee populations that are not being controlled properly.
    —Loss of habitat and habitat diversity due to increased urbanization.
    —Improper use of pesticides toxic to pollinators.
    —Lack of genetic diversity in managed bee populations.

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