Slog
News & ArtsThursday, March 5, 2009
Enviro / Economy I'll Bee Back
Posted by Jonathan Golob on Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Take this as at least one good thing to come of the economic meltdown: The Honeybees are back.
In recent years, however, there has been alarm over possible shortages of honeybees and scary stories of beekeepers finding that 30-50% of their charges have vanished over the winter. It is called colony collapse disorder (CCD), and its cause remains a mystery.Add to this worries about long-term falls in the populations of other pollinators, such as butterflies and bats, and the result is a growing impression of a threat to nature’s ability to supply enough nectar-loving animals to service mankind’s crops. This year, however, the story has developed a twist. In California the shortage of bees has been replaced by a glut.
....The suggestion is that poor nutrition has weakened the bees’ immune systems, making them more vulnerable to viruses and other parasites. Feeding bees supplements, rather than relying on their ability to forage in the wild, costs time and money. Many beekeepers therefore try to avoid it. Anecdote suggests, however, that those who do fork out find their colonies are far more resistant to CCD.
This year’s Californian bee glut, then, has been caused by a mixture of rising supply meeting falling demand. The price of almonds dropped by 30% between August and December last year, as people had less money in their pockets. That has caused growers to cut costs, and therefore hire fewer hives.
It appears the big mystery of Colony Collapse Disorder was the ordinary. Starving and overworked creatures aren't healthy. The bees, too, are getting a well-needed rest.
Look, we really don't know why they got sick and died.
And if Comrades and fellow travelers like Republican Reichsfuhrer John Boehner had their way, we never will know, because those aren't the earmarks that he added. And he added quite a few (more than anyone else in Congress).
Exactly. It was too delicious. Go and read TFA to which I linked and from which I quoted.
In typical Economist fashion, it continues:
"And if the nutrition and disease theory is correct, next year’s lower contract prices may see beekeepers cutting back on supplemental feeding, and a resurgence of CCD."
Beekeepers, having accidentally helped their broods, are likely to have 'Chicago Tea parties' of their own shortly. Huzzah supply and demand.
With the long and I mean looonnnngggg laundry list of things that bush fucked up and screwed us on, there is no need to make anything up for the list. But thank for playing.
"TATE: As far as pollination is concerned we have probably an overage of colonies only because California is having to shut down many, many orchards.
"That is Jerry Tate of Tate’s Honey Farm. California is having a major issue with a lack of water and is seeing many orchards being shut down."
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Hating People Doesn't Make Them Thinner by Jen Graves
-
Los Angeles Gay Bar Bans Bachelorette Parties Until Marriage Equality Is Attained by David Schmader
-
Fill in the Blank by Grant Brissey
-
This Reminds Me of the Great Calculator Scare of the Late '70s/Early '80s by David Schmader
-
Idiot Tries to Defend Bigoted Anti-Gay-Marriage Preacher on Anderson Cooper by Paul Constant
-
SL Letter of the Day: Putting It In by Dan Savage
-
Six Moms with Too Much Time on Their Hands and a Shitty Website Decide to Fight Gay Superheroes by Paul Constant
-
Why Mayor McGinn's Wife Canceled Her Family's Seattle Times Subscription by Eli Sanders
-
What the Hell Is Wrong With Seattle's Pride Parade? by Dominic Holden
-
Meet the UW "Swagga Suit" by David Schmader
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (15) RSS