After two bad years, honeybee population thrives

This summer, consumers swarming to farm stands and supermarkets may find the local produce extra succulent, thanks to a resurgence in the honeybee pollination.Beekeepers in New Jersey say it's part of positive trend in other areas around the country.

"One-third of the food you and I eat is directly affected by honeybee pollination," said Tim Schuler, New Jersey's chief bee expert. Honeybee pollination adds more than $15 billion in value to about 130 crops including berries, fruits, vegetables and of course, flowers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Bee pollination was limited during the past two years because of the destructive presence of Colony Collapse Disorder, a mysterious phenomenon that killed a large number of honeybee colonies.

"I haven't had any beekeeper tell me of (a case) Colony Collapse Disorder," said Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University Extension district horticulture and marketing agent for southwestern Michigan.

Mike Hansen, state apiarist for the Michigan Department of Agriculture, said that while he heard of one eastside farmer losing 2,000 colonies, he does not foresee a huge problem with bees dying off.

"We expect 25 to 30 percent losses in the state this year," Hansen said, which he said has become the norm.

Hansen said that a good supply of bees from the south, especially Florida, has helped pollination this year, which he said is "going well."

"They are finding all they need here," Hansen said.

In New Jersey, beekeeper Lester Shimp said he has seen signs of the honeybee revival in removing numerous swarms. "In a typical year I receive about eight to 10 calls for bee removal. This year, it was twice that," Shimp said.

"The natural tendency of a bee colony to swarm is when a colony grows too big for their home," beekeeper Stephen Kozachyn said. "If the swarms are any indication, honeybees are definitely on their way back, but I would be cautiously optimistic," he said.

Hansen agrees with that assessment, and said that people should not let their guard down.

"Things like this go cyclical," the Michigan apiarist said.

Hansen said the USDA is involved in a study, following three truckloads of bees to monitor their health and any possible problems with migratory beekeepers.

Schuler said the public can help protect the honeybee population by "not using pesticides indiscriminately and growing plants that are beneficial to pollinators."

Contact Roberto Acosta at racosta@kalamazoogazette.com or 388-8557.