Hi all
I think if you look into it, the 1970s were a particularly bad time for beekeepers because of pesticides. "For 1975, losses equaled $965,960, or more than 4% of California beekeepers' annual income" (Siebert). This is when the "Pesticide Indemnification Program" was concocted. The government's answer: Instead of curtailing pesticide use, pay beekeepers for their losses. The program was killed when it was discovered some beekeepers made more money with dead bees than live ones. It was a dark time in agriculture, but organic farming was on the rise and IPM was developed. I am not sure much can be gained by comparing, though. It's a different world.

PB

Siebert, J. W. (1980). Beekeeping, pollination, and externalities in California agriculture. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 62(2), 165-171.

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