*First posted in sci.agr.beekeeping news group....*
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In spite of all the reports of honeybees disappearing from so many areas
agriculture production does not seemed to have suffered any but normal
cyclic declines in yields.
APPLES are one crop that is somewhat dependent on bees of one kind or
another for good production. Honeybees are considered an manageable asset
to the growing of apples and growers spend millions of dollars each year
in having beekeepers bring in their bees during the bloom time. Apples
are one of the easiest crops to pollinate and research has demonstrated
that the job can be done in a matter of hours if the bloom is receptive
and the bees can fly. It is interesting to note that in some apple
growing areas bees are considered not desirable because the growers feel
that to much fruit is set and the bees make costly hand thinning
necessary. These growers in the past think nothing about using SEVEN to
thin their apples and also reduce all the bee populations.
The latest data just released on Apple Yields from the many different
areas of the US is shown below.
STATE 1995 1996 1997
----Tons-----
US TOTALS 5,292,500 5,548,200 6,659,350
Washington 2,425,000 2,750,000 2,600,000
Michigan 610,000 362,500 500,000
New York 555,000 515,000 560,000
California 425,000 450,000 450,000
Idaho 40,000 90,000 65,000
North Carolina 135,000 100,000 80,000
Ohio 60,000 45,000 37,500
Oregon 70,000 69,500 77,500
Pennsylvania 250,000 195,500 237,500
Virginia 200,000 137,500 125,000
West Virginia 82,500 52,500 55,000
Other States 38,300 39,200 42,350
ttul, the OLd Drone
Data from USDA Economic Research Service
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(w)Opinions are not necessarily facts. Use at own risk.
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