Posted March 10, 2014
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide about $3 million in technical and financial assistance for interested farmers and ranchers to improve the health of bees, according to USDA news release available here. The Midwest Producer and Ag Professional also reported on the story hereand here.
The funding will be available to producers in five Midwestern states: Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
“Honey bee pollination supports an estimated $15 billion worth of agricultural production, including more than 130 fruits and vegetables that are the foundation of a nutritious diet. The future security of America’s food supply depends on healthy honey bees,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
“Expanded support for research, combined with USDA’s other efforts to improve honey bee health should help America’s beekeepers combat the current, unprecedented loss of honey bee hives each year.”
Recent studies show that beekeepers are losing about 30 percent of their honey bee colonies each year, which is double the amount of losses experienced according to historical norms prior to 2006.
Funding for the program will be provided through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to promote conservation practices that will benefit honey bees while also benefiting the environment.
These Midwestern states were chosen because the region is a resting ground for over 65 percent of the commercially managed honeybees in the country from June to September.
Applications are due March 21, 2014.
For more information on EQIP, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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