Bees in factory farming

I heard this dreadful thing on the news on Radio 4 this afternoon. They were discussing the disappearing bee population world wide and the impact it is already having on farming and food production. The one of the presenters said something about it being due to the monoculture approach and how it meant the bees only had single species pollen for food.

She went on to explain how there are fleets of huge trucks, each bearing thousands of colonies of bees that are shipped around the US and released into farms around 500 sq miles in size that produce one type of fruit. They are left there for that plant's pollination season and then boxed up and taken thousands of miles to another farm that produces a different fruit.

But the problem is that during their stay in each place, they have a very poor diet being only one type of plant and thus their immune systems are affected. The resultant poor health has the knock on effect of making them prey to a kind of leech mite which sucks their blood but this mite is resistant to any disinfestation chemicals the owners try to use. It was described as being like a human having a blood sucking monkey on our backs 24/7! The stress that all of this imposes on the bees and their colonies is what is killing off the honey bees.

I was horrified to learn of this.

Anyone else know about it?

 

Daisees are you talking about the Veroa mite that has come over to this country from America and has gradually been infesting and killing off colonies of bees up and down the country.From what was said a few years ago on Country File these mites burrow into the bees and kill them.Not sure how it is done as it was a few years ago that I saw the article.:eek:

Since then Mr Kandy and myself have been gradually turning turning both our front and garden into a cottage style garden for bees,butterflies,birds and wildlife by putting in as many trees, shrubs,and cottage style garden plants to try and help the bees etc survive.I even let the wasps live as they are usuaful in keeping the aphid population down.

I wish more people would grow all sorts of plants because without the bees I believe this world will die out because from what I have read bees are one of the most important species on the planet for the survival of the human race,but knowing me I have got it wrong.

PS why does all the horrible things come from America,why can't they send us anything nice for a change?:rolleyes:

 

I think that may have been it but the presenter only described it as a passenger that drinks the bee's blood. So maybe not.

I was delighted these last few days to see the number of bees visiting my foxgloves - especially now I have uprooted the lavender shrubs that were often alive with them!

 

Thats so sad to hear D, is there anything us humans dont exploit. Ive started planting more flowers in my garden that attract bees, like the foxglove etc. I only have a small garden but i feel as though i'm doing my bit, and what is a garden without bees!!!:D

 

This also happens in the UK at places such as The wight salads group who own commercial glasshouses on the isle of wight and mainland Europe...

 

Kandy, you are not far wrong.

Bees are essential in pollinating crops and plants of all kinds especially honey bees. Without edible plants and crops then we would really be in a mess as you can imagine.

We have to protect and encourage bees whenever we get the chance or opportunity. Even a small part of our gardens or allotments are available to grow bee and butterfly friendly plants...even if it is only a couple of square yards or metres.

It really is important. More important than dwindling Oil Reserves. We can live without oil and petrol etc, but not food.

 

Daisees, yes I've heard about this. I sometimes see a beekeeper & we have a chat, we first got talking about our dogs! Then I learnt that he was a beekeeper & it just made me that little more alert to them.

I asked him about something I had heard that said if the bee dies out, then humans will die withing a certain number of years. He said that was a bit of an exageration but that people didn't realise how important bees are. He also thinks that the bees are doing quite well in this country anyway.

I have noticed the bees coming into the garden now I have some flowers (hooray) and I will even stand & watch them, the bees that is!

I think we, humans, mess too much with nature & we will suffer for it, if we're not already.

cheers