Although beets are mostly wind-pollinated, pollinators like honey bees have a beneficial effect on the seed yield. :)

>>Hope You Like Beets, Because The Bee Crisis Could Soon Be Hitting the U.S.
Food Supply

I love boiled beets grated together with fresh horseradish, lemon juice, basil, and black pepper.  A great liver cleanser.

The article mentions Australia. I hear that Australia has had some of the worst droughts on record in recent years.  Nonetheless, they have excess bees that they can ship abroad.  What's wrong with the US?  Most of Australia is desert.  The US climate should support plentiful bee colonies.

Is it the environmental pollutants and lack of botanical diversity?  Has anyone tried keeping colonies in Australia with American queens to see if they can do ok in the Australian setting?  This experiment would certainly prove/disprove the environmental aspect.

Waldemar 

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