Bees and Their Effect on Us and Our Environment

When people think about animals that are important to their food supply, they generally think of cows, pigs and chicken, or maybe even ostrich, goat or sheep. Very few people think about bees, but the truth is, bees play a very important part in the U. S. food supply. These small and incredibly busy insects are responsible for the way that we are able to get food and keep it, and a problem that is being faced by bees is definitely one that is being faced by humans!

Bees are a vital part of the way that food is grown in the United States; they pollinate as much as thirty percent of the U. S. food supply and their work is something that most farmers rely upon. In years where bees are a bit scarce, bee keepers, more properly known as apiarists, will travel from farm to farm, renting out their hives until the work can get done. This allows the crops to pollinate and mature, and as you can see, without it, we would be facing dire straits indeed.

Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that we are facing just such a disaster. The Bee Colony Collapse Disorder has killed off about 29 percent of all of the bees in the United States over the past year, and the bees that are dying are dying so quickly that replacement has not been possible. With this in mind, and understanding the importance of the role of bees to crop production, it may be that we will be seeing the end of many different fruits and vegetables in the United States. There is a very long list of things that are pollinated partly or wholly by bees, and these crops will suffer severely in the years to come.

This is an extremely significant issue that is getting a very small amount of national coverage; indeed, many Americans are not even aware that this is a problem. The collapse of the bee population is one that can be attributed to a number of things, and many scientists believe that it might have a great deal to do with the amount of pesticides that have been used or a change in climate.

If you are concerned about this issue, keep talking about it. Talk to people that you know, and write letters to your governmental representatives, pointing to the importance of the issue. When you grow your own food, do not use pesticides and make sure that you continue to learn about this issue.