Hi All,



I received a letter from a prominent member of the CCD working Group, who 
wished to remain anonymous due to funding issues.  Here are some excerpts:



"[A certain critic] needs to [stop talking], CCD was added to the Pollinator 
Train that was already leaving the station, not the other way around.



"... we need to speak with a single voice/agenda to Congress.



"The staffers can not push the urgency, if USDA doesn't acknowledge the 
need, and if the industry doesn't raise a hue and cry.  Congress folks 
respond to LOTS of input -- i.e., voters.  Reps of organizations may speak 
for the associations, but its the input from the rank and file that really 
gets attention.



"That said, smart staffers pick out folks to use as sounding boards - and 
we've done our best to emphasize that the first priority is to help an 
industry that is at its limits -- 40% of our respondents saying their losses 
from all causes over the last 16 months was severe is a disturbing 
statistic.  CCD may be the attention getter, but the surveys indicate just 
how badly we have failed - whether its mites, poor diet, climate - we've let 
the industry slide toward self destruction.



"As per the native pollinator folks -- the public is sympathetic to 
pollinators, and some are prettier (depends on your background) than bees. 
But it doesn't matter, as long as the public is concerned about pollinator 
loss (all pollinators), the Congressional folks know that they won't get a 
backlash for supporting a small special interest group.  Remember, voters 
(especially urban folks) don't necessarily understand or support ag 
subsidies, but suddenly, saving the pollinator has transcended those petty 
interests."



It really appears to me that it is in the best interest of the beekeeping 
community to capitalize on the "Save the pollinators" feeling of the Public. 
We can best do this by working in harmony with the native pollinator folk.



Another news release of interest:



USDA Announces Colony Collapse Disorder Research Action Plan

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2007 - U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary 
for Research, Education and Economics Gale Buchanan today announced that 
USDA researchers have finalized an action plan for dealing with colony 
collapse disorder (CCD) of honey bees. The plan can be read at 
www.ars.usda.gov/is/br/ccd/ccd_actionplan.pdf.



Randy Oliver

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