Honeybee die-off getting attention
This is not good. Colony Collapse Disorder has spread to 27 states, with the country losing about a quarter of its honeybee population. It sounds like they're closer to identifying the culprit(s), though, and the problem is getting more attention. As it should. But there aren't many words of encouragement floating about right now. These words from Kevin Hackett, the national program leader for USDA's bee and pollination program, are not inspiring:
This is the biggest general threat to our food supply ... Quite frankly, the question is whether the bees can weather this perfect storm... Do they have the resilience to bounce back? We'll know probably by the end of the summer.
Like I said, not good. If they do bounce back - and they likely will - maybe the Congress can divert some of the billions in agriculture subsidies the Farm Bill provides, or a couple of billion in missle defense money, and invest in sustaining the honeybee population for the long term. Just don't put a Bush political appointee in charge.
