recent words from Eric Mussen

Research has been done on whether bees are hurting due to malnutrition, with some thinking that lack of a diversity of food could be partly to blame. But there have been colony collapses on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, where there are many organic gardens. "You would think that would be a perfect mix of food," Mussen said. "You can have this problem in the middle of intense agriculture or in the most idyllic setting. It can still happen."

"In the good old days," beekeepers would lose 5-10 percent of their bees over winter, which could easily be built back up. But now counting losses to the Colony Collapse Disorder, the average annual loss is 29-35 percent. However, individual beekeepers who lose bees might lose 60-100 percent of their supply. The size of the operation does not appear to have anything to do with it, Mussen said.

http://www.chicoer.com/fromthenewspaper/ci_17554754

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