In the Business Section of Madison WI's "Wisconsin State Journal" dated
2/27/97, was an article concerning the plight of beekeepers, primarily in WI
but touching on the national view.
 
Some of the highlights are: 1) "Experts estimate 67% of the state's domestic
honeybees -- and 90% of the wild honeybees -- have been wiped out" - I
assume this is over a 10 year span which is cited earlier.
 
2) The importance of bees in crop pollination and the impact on the large
fruit producers and even for the backyard gardener.
 
3) 20% of CA's bees destroyed in floods.
 
4) A couple of paragraphs about mites and their affect on bees.
 
5) "There are about 75,000 beehives in Wisconsin. In 1996, the mortality
rate was 42%" and a local beekeeper predicts this will be a "tough" year also.
 
6) Honey prices have doubled in last three years.
 
7) "Wisconsin has lost 50% of its domestic honeybees every winter the past
four years, according to the state Agriculture Department. Normal winter
losses seldom exceed 15%."
 
Article concludes with a few paragraphs about another local beekeeper who
has quit the pollination business.
 
It also included internet sites (www.sci.agriculture.beekeeping &
[log in to unmask]) and how to get General Mills to contribute $0.25 for
each bee from Honey Nut Cheerios for honeybee research).
 
John Beck