[Pollinator] NPW Cooperative Extensiion - Lincolnton, NC

[ladadams at aol.com]

Cooperative Extension : National Pollinator Week
Posted by admin on 2009/6/22 9:31:39 (229 reads)

By Kevin Starr
County Extension Director
NC Cooperative Extension Service

LINCOLNTON - Did you know that National Pollinator Week is June 22-28 
this year? I’m sure you already have it marked on your calendar. I 
thought it might be a good time to review the importance of pollinators 
in our state. The following information is from “The Value Of Honey 
Bees As Pollinators In N.C.”. This leaflet was written by the 
beekeeping specialist at N.C. State University, Dr. David Tarpy.

Many crops require insects to move pollen from one flower to another. 
Pollination ensures fruit set, proper development, more fruit, and 
viable seed. Honey bees are the most important insect pollinator for 
crops grown in North Carolina.



Helms Security, Inc.
Vegetable and fruit crops that require honey bees include cucumbers, 
blueberries, watermelons, apples, squash, strawberries, melons, and 
peaches. Field crops that benefit from honey bee pollination include 
alfalfa, cotton, peanuts, and soybeans. Averaged over the last five 
years, honey bees have directly accounted for approximately $96 million 
in annual fruit and vegetable production (67.9%) and approximately $186 
million in total annual crop productivity (24.5%)

Since the mid-1980s, honey bees have been plagued by two exotic 
parasitic mites that can kill entire colonies if left untre
ated. The 
result has been a dramatic drop in the state’s honey bee population. 
The estimated number of managed hives in the state has declined from a 
high of 180,000 hives before the mite introduction to only 100,000 
hives currently. Most wild honey bee colonies, which also served as 
pollinators, have been wiped out by these mites.

It is now necessary that growers of bee-dependent crops rent hives to 
ensure proper and successful pollination.

So if you get the chance, thank a beekeeper for helping to maintain a 
population of our most valuable pollinators. If you are interested in 
becoming a beekeeper yourself, call Cooperative Extension at 
704-736-8452. We’ll be glad to pass along contact information for the 
beekeeper associations in our area.