Alarm Over Missing Bees Prompts House Hearing

by Andrea Seabrook 

All Things Considered, March 29, 2007 · The disappearance of bee colonies across North America, which endangers the pollination of fruits and vegetables, prompts a hearing by the House agriculture panel. Alarmed beekeepers, farmers and scientists voiced their concerns at the hearing.

The scientists and farmers spoke of the magnitude of the problem, which, they stressed, went far beyond a few bees here and there.

It's not just the honey industry being talking about, they said — although it is getting hit hard, too.

At issue is practically the whole of American agriculture. Most orchards, fields of grain and vegetable crops are pollinated by honeybees. And both milk and meat come from cows that eat grain.

If honeybee populations continue to disappear in such huge numbers, the witnesses said, it could have a dramatic effect on crop yields — and ultimately the nation's food supply.

E-mail this Page

 

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:	» List of local stations (PDF)
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes    No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes    No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes    No
(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)