Concerns over honey bee deaths growing

Concerns over honey bee deaths growing

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM)—Over 6 million honeybees have died in the last year, causing great concern among scientists and beekeepers alike.

Dr. Shahid Karim, a biologist at the University of Southern Mississippi, and his team of researchers are looking into different reasons why this is occurring.

“There are factors, including parasites, fungi, bacterial pathogens, as well as climate change, chemical pesticides, fungicides,” Karim said. “You name it, and there are so many different factors that play a part in the honeybee population.”

Bees help pollinate produce, not just produce honey.

If the honey bee decline continues, food shortages and price increases will become a major concern.

Two beekeepers in the Pine Belt have experienced losses in their colonies.

Ed Hafer, owner of Ed’s Backyard Bees, said he lost over 45% of his colonies last year, a number he hasn’t seen in his 10 years of beekeeping.

“There are several different variables that can come into play when you’re talking about the number of bees that have died, but I don’t think anyone knows for sure what the underlying cause is,” Hafer said. “As a society, we have to make sure scientists have the resources to complete their work for the sake of the food system.”

Steven Coy, president of the American Honey Producers Association and owner of Coy Bee Farms, said beekeepers get very little or no federal aid.

He said he lost 60% of his colonies last year, but knows beekeepers in different parts of the country who have lost all of their colonies.

“There is no long program for honey or anything,” Coy said. “We do take part in the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program, so if our colonies die, we get paid a portion of the value of those colonies.”

But people can help ease the financial burden by supporting local beekeepers.

Coy said to get you know a local beekeeper and support local honey businesses.

Look for beekeepers at farmers’ markets and on social media platforms. Many sell in local grocery stores.

The United States Department of Agriculture is helping fund research at the University of Southern Mississippi into the honey bee deaths.

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