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Honeybee Health Coalition demonstration project underway

The Honeybee Health Coalition is heading up a three year demonstration project to implement collaborative best management practices that help reduce honeybee colony loses.

Coalition Facilitator Julie Shapiro says while honeybee losses have historically ranged from 10-15 percent, in recent years that number has more than doubled during over wintering.  “There’s scientific consensus that there’s several stress factors impacting honeybees and the loss of colonies each year as well as impacting other pollinators.  Three of the most important stress factors are honey pests and diseases, poor forage and nutrition, and crop pest management.”

She says the Bee Integrated Demonstration Project pairs together beekeepers and farmers, and provides expert assistance and resources, to coordinate measurable best management practices that address major stress factors. The project also includes a job swap where beekeepers and producers discuss concerns they have about pollinator heath as well as field days next year.

The project is being piloted in North Dakota which leads the country in honey production.

AUDIO: Webinar on Bee Integrated Demonstration Project