The Honey Bees are Vanishing

I don't think the average person has any idea how important the honey bees are. They just run and dodge them, afraid they might be stung. But about 3.5 million U. S. acres of vegetables, oilseeds and legume seed crops, and fruits depend on insect pollination. Around 80% of this is accomplished by honey bees. Honey bee pollination is worth about $92 million per year in Iowa. They provided $14.6 billion worth of pollination services to U. S. crops in 2000. Crops include everything from California's almonds to the alfalfa beef cattle eat. It's kind of a downhill effect said one beekeeper. Everybody gets affected by it sooner or later and it's going to make people stand up and think about what is happening. Ibe beekeeper said we've caught up with too much pesticides or insectides. It's in our water and in everything. It is going to make a big difference in our crops around here if the bees keep disappearing. Beekeepers reported having many of their hives empty or dying. If you don't have beens, you don't have food. That is scary. Something needs to be done.