According to the Christian Science Monitor bee populations in 27 states have been disappearing. From 50 to 90% of hives are coming up empty. No one knows for sure the cause.
For many entomologists, the bee crisis is a wake-up call. By relying on a single species for pollination, US agriculture has put itself in a precarious position, they say. A resilient agricultural system requires diverse pollinators. This speaks to a larger conservation issue. Some evidence indicates a decline in the estimated 4,500 potential alternate pollinators – native species of butterflies, wasps. and other bees. The blame for that sits squarely on human activity – habitat loss, pesticide use, and imported disease – but much of this could be offset by different land-use practices.
The loss of bees could severely impact on agriculture, which could impact on prices. This combined with so many of the weather problems we've had the last few years, as well as the ever expanding petroleum dollar, and I expect food costs to rise significantly next year.
Supposedly Missouri hives are still strong. However, when I was at Botanical last week and Shaw earlier, I didn't see anywhere near the number of bees I normally see with so many flowers and plants blooming.
