Honeybees In Australia Suffer Record Shattering Deaths

Honeybees in Australia are suffering the same dire situation as their insect cousins in the United States and in England. The beekeeper industry is urging lawmakers to enact more stringent biosecurity measures the protect the pollinates from an immediate and devastation pest.

Australian honeybees are being destroyed by the Varroa mite in record numbers, according to the National Farmers Federation. The agricultural organization has deemed the destructive Varroa mite found recently in Papau New Guinea as the equivalent of foot-and-mouth disease for the bee population.

If the Varroa mite has successfully infiltrated the bulk of Australia, the 65 percent of crops grown in the Land Down Under reliant upon the honeybes to grow, will suffer extreme losses and likely cost increases at the checkout counter.

National Farmers Federation (NFF) President Brent Finlay had this to say about the honeybee losses:

“The potential for pests such as Varroa destructor to wipe out feral bee populations and decimate managed bees is real. If honeybee pollination were to stop completely, significant losses would be felt in the broader agriculture sector and more specifically in sectors such as the horticulture sector.”

According to NFF statistics, the value of honeybees to agricultural production in Australia is approximately $6 billion for the 35 “most important” bee pollination dependent crops. The organization is calling for more investment into border security measures and research into the Varro mites.

Australian beekeeper Martin Gilbert has her bees used to pollinate avocado, almonds, canola, and other crops important to the economy in the country, particularly in the southern region. According to Gilbert, the beekeeper industry is extremely worried about the “invisible” yet major contributor to the agriculture industry has been ignored.

Martin Gilbert had this to say about the fate of the honeybees:

“It worries us a lot, especially when the government hasn’t taken this seriously. If Varroa mite does break the quarantine lines of Australia’s shores it will affect the apiary industry right across Australia and it will affect honeybee pollination for at least 35 commercial crops.”

Monsanto recently held a bee summit with keepers from around the United States to discuss the steep decreases in the honeybee population in North America. Bee health is rapidly becoming an important issue among not just the folks who keep bees and those who adore honey, but to anyone who wants to continue living, eating, and breathing on the planet. Many feel that a connection exists between colony collapse disorder and Monsanto’s Roundup Ready.

Monsanto’s Roundup Ready contains glyphosate, which may be toxic to both honeybees and humans according to a new report. The chemical herbicide is found in approximately 750 commercial products currently sold in the United States. Weed killers such as the top seller offered by biotech giant Monsanto reportedly infiltrate the ground and accumulate inside mammals, particularly in the bones. When helpful microorganisms inside the “gut” of humans are disrupted, the immune system is reportedly compromised.

As much as 70 percent of the honeybees in colder parts of America did not survive the harsh winter in what is developing as a major blow to farmers and gardeners – a situation that could lead to higher food prices. This loss follows record losses of the little pollinators due to colony collapse disorder, a condition in which entire hives disappear and/or die. Honeybees are responsible for directly pollinating about 70 percent of the food supply.

A class of insecticide chemicals routinely used in America are killing off the bee population, according to the UK report. The chemical culprits are typically applied to rapeseed (canola), corn, sugar beets, and a handful of other crops around the world. Related data released in the European Union confirms the threat to healthy bee colonies.

As much as 70 percent of the honeybees in colder parts of the country did not survive the harsh winter in what is developing as a major blow to farmers and gardeners – a situation that could lead to higher food prices. This follows record losses of the little pollinators due to colony collapse disorder, a condition in which entire hives disappear and/or die. Honeybees are responsible for directly pollinating about 70 percent of the food supply.

A class of insecticide chemicals routinely used in America are killing off the bee population, according to the UK report. The chemical culprits are typically applied to rapeseed (canola), corn, sugar beets, and a handful of other crops around the world. Related data released in the European Union confirms the threat to healthy bee colonies.

Honeybees typically gather closely around the queen bee and feed off of honey stored in the hive throughout the winter. When the winter is particularly harsh and long, some bees are forced to leave the cluster to look for food – and never return. Neonicotinoids are often blamed for a nervous system disorder which prevents the bees from being able to navigate properly and find their hives.

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