[Pollinator] Bee Health Press Release

Mon Jul 27 13:13:51 PDT 2009

Thanks to Christina M. Grozinger for forwarding the attached and copy below.

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Bee Health is Focus of New National Web Resource

A new Web resource can help the beekeeping industry with new research as
well as an amalgamation of science-based information.

Released July 21, 2009 

Researchers and educators from America'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), http://www.extension.org. 

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. 

"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. 

Keith Delaplane, professor at the University of Georgia, 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 America. One of the exciting things about
working with eXtension is that it represents a practical forum for bee
scientists as well as beekeepers." 

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. 

Pollinator losses 

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. 

In the 2006 release of the National Research Council report, "Status of
Pollinators in North America," 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. 

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. 

"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. 

Contributors 

Experienced researchers and extension personnel in the United States
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. 

24 eXtension resource areas 

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. 

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. 

--30- 

Contacts: John Skinner, University of Tennessee, jskinner at utk.edu 

Keith Delaplane, University of Georgia, ksd at uga.edu 

Jeff Pettis, USDA-ARS, pettisj at ba.ars.usda.gov 

Writer: Lynette Spicer, Iowa State University, lynette.spicer at extension.org 

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.

More information about the website can be found here
http://www.extension.org/pages/Bee_Health_Community_Page

and here is the direct link to the homepage
http://www.extension.org/bee%20health

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