randy oliver wrote:
> Does anyone else find it to be curious that bees
> seem to be doing so well in so many areas this year?
> The Press is experiencing reality lag:
Randy, do you and others agree with the following report that
a honey bee supply crisis could be looming due to
"unsustainable average operational losses?
http://maarec.psu.edu/pdfs/PrelimLosses2009.pdf
Preliminary Results: A Survey of Honey Bee Colonies Losses
in the U.S. Between September 2008 and April 2009.
Prepared by: Dennis vanEngelsdorp, Jerry Hayes, and Jeff Pettis.
"The Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) and USDA-ARS Beltsville
Honey Bee Lab conducted a survey between September 2008 and
early April 2009 to estimate colony loses across the country.
Over 20% of the countryıs estimated 2.3 million colonies were
surveyed."
"A total loss of 28.6% of managed honey bee colonies was
recorded. This compares to losses of 35.8% and 31.8%
recorded respectively in the winters of 2007/2008 and
2006/2007."
"While a decrease in total losses is encouraging, the rate of
loss remains unsustainable as the average operational loss
increased from 31% in 2007/2008 to 34.2% in the
2008/2009 winter."
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