Shutting down federal bee labs threatens bees, beekeepers and the US food system
... The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to soon close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, a 6,500-acre agricultural research station in Maryland that is home to the nation’s premier bee research and disease diagnosis hub, the Beltsville Bee Research Lab.
The closure comes at a critical moment for bees. In winter 2025, many beekeepers lost over half their operations as pesticide-resistant varroa mites spread, bringing deadly viruses. The losses have led to low honey production, and soaring fuel costs have made shipping bees cross-country for agricultural pollination increasingly expensive, further stressing the industry. ...
https://theconversation.com/shutting-down-federal-bee-labs-threatens-bees-beekeepers-and-the-us-food-system-283358
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Shutting down federal bee labs threatens bees, beekeepers and the US food system
When honey bees get sick, their beekeepers turn to the nation’s premier bee research and disease diagnosis lab for help. That crucial resource is now disappearing.The Conversation
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