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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:navy'>Thanks to Christina
M. Grozinger for forwarding the attached and copy below.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=6 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Bee
Health is Focus of New National Web Resource<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A new Web resource can help the beekeeping industry with new research
as well as an amalgamation of science-based information.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Released July 21,
2009 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Researchers and
educators from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
land-grant universities, government agencies and industry have banded together
to provide a comprehensive resource for science-based information on bee health
management strategies. It’s on eXtension, (pronounced E-extension), <a
href="http://www.extension.org" title="http://www.extension.org">http://www.extension.org</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Pollinating bees
are essential members of American agro-ecosystems. The high death rates of bee
colonies and the emergence of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) concern many fruit
and vegetable producers from home gardeners to commercial growers. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“In these
challenging times for the beekeeping industry, with several factors
contributing to reductions in pollination, a large cooperative effort is needed
among researchers, extension personnel, beekeepers, crop producers and
associated industry people to provide answers and solutions that benefit
everyone,” said John Skinner, professor at the University of Tennessee
and leader of the new eXtension resource that amassed the latest research
information about health of all species of bees. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Keith Delaplane,
professor at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Georgia</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, explained,
“The eXtension concept is a direct response to concerns about information
quality on the Internet. Users can access eXtension with the same confidence
they access their own state university extension networks. Information
published on the bee health Web site represents the best summary opinions of
scientific authorities across <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
One of the exciting things about working with eXtension is that it represents a
practical forum for bee scientists as well as beekeepers.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The bee health
site provides help for new and inexperienced producers, as well as those with
experience but who need an answer to a specific question. The site includes
answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs). If a question cannot be found in
the FAQs, eXtension’s “Ask an Expert” feature can be used for
a quick response. The site also includes in-depth, peer-reviewed articles
covering bee biology and production. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Pollinator
losses</span></font></b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In “A Survey
of Honey Bee Colonies Losses in the U.S. Between September 2008 and April
2009,” the Apiary Inspectors of America and researchers at the
USDA-Agricultural Research Service Beltsville Honey Bee Lab found that colony
losses are still high in the majority of operations surveyed. Overall the
colony losses were 28.6 percent. This is down from the previous winters of
2007/2008 and 2006/2007 when colony losses were recorded at 35.8 and 31.8
percent respectively. Only 15 percent of colonies died with CCD symptoms this
year compared to 60 percent the previous year. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In the 2006
release of the National Research Council report, “Status of Pollinators
in <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place>,” many bees other than
the honey bee (non-apis bees) are recognized as important pollinators of crop
and non-crop plants. The report identified the need for improved management and
disease control of non-apis bees, such as bumble bees and alfalfa leaf cutting
bees, as well as conservation strategies in the field. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>These losses
underline the need to get the most up to date and accurate information to
beekeepers as quickly as possible to improve bee health and continue to improve
survival. Bee declines are likely a product of negatively interacting factors
in pathology, immunology, nutrition, toxicology, genetics, ecosystems
management and bee husbandry. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“Declining
honey bee health is complex and the answers that are needed to improve colony
survival will only come from a concerted effort by a diverse group of
scientists, beekeepers, extension specialists and other interested parties
working closely together to improve honey bee health,” said Jeff Pettis,
research leader at the USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Contributors</span></font></b>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Experienced
researchers and extension personnel in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> contributed to the
new site. The bee health group decided to begin with a concentration in bee
biology as a prerequisite for other topics. Their next focus will be on best
management practices, disease and pest information and bee breeding. The
experts are based in 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities, other universities,
education centers and the USDA-ARS. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>24
eXtension resource areas</span></font></b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Bee health is one
of many Web communities within eXtension, www.extension.org, a national project
of the U.S. Cooperative Extension System. Other topic resources include
information on the financial crisis; animal manure management; beef cattle;
corn and soybean production; cotton production; dairy cattle; disasters;
diversity across higher education; entrepreneurs and their communities;
families food and fitness; family caregiving; geospatial technology; goats;
horses; horticulture; imported fire ants; niche meat processing; organic
agriculture; parenting; personal finance; pest management; science, engineering
and technology for youth; and wildlife damage management. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>eXtension is an
educational partnership of more than 70 land-grant universities helping
Americans improve their lives with access to timely, objective, research-based
information and educational opportunities. eXtension's interactive Web site is
customized with links to local Cooperative Extension sites. Land-grant
universities were founded on the ideals that higher education should be
accessible to all, that universities should teach liberal and practical
subjects and share knowledge with people throughout their states. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>--30— <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Contacts: John
Skinner, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">jskinner@utk.edu</st1:PersonName> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Keith Delaplane, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Georgia</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, <st1:PersonName w:st="on">ksd@uga.edu</st1:PersonName>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Jeff Pettis,
USDA-ARS, <st1:PersonName w:st="on">pettisj@ba.ars.usda.gov</st1:PersonName> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Writer: Lynette
Spicer, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Iowa</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>,
lynette.spicer@extension.org <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><br>
This web resource comes from experts involved in the USDA-ARS Areawide Program
for Improving Honey Bee Health, the CSREES, NRI Coordinated Agricultural
Project (CAP) for Sustainable Solutions to Problems Affecting Health of Managed
Bees, and many other individual bee experts and programs that have experienced,
tested strategies and new research to share with the public.<br>
<br>
More information about the website can be found here<br>
<a href="http://www.extension.org/pages/Bee_Health_Community_Page">http://www.extension.org/pages/Bee_Health_Community_Page</a><br>
<br>
and here is the direct link to the homepage<br>
<a href="http://www.extension.org/bee%20health">http://www.extension.org/bee%20health</a><br>
<br>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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