The Buzzz Behind Colony Collapse Disorder
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA is an agency designated for the protection of human health, the environment, and all natural resources. The EPA ensures these goals through conducting research on environmental issues and mandates policies to enforce regulations that are designed to instate better industrial and agriculture practices.
Roles in CCD:The EPA focuses its efforts on pesticide analysis for the CCD Steering Committee (A committee established by the USDA to create an action plan for CCD) and creates pesticide labels that communicate the risk level to bees as well as restricting some chemicals that are extremely toxic to bees.
Influences: Although the EPA is conducting analysis for a variety of pesticides and providing labeling, it has been communicated that the EPA holds back on a lot of information they have gathered on pesticide risks. The EPA does not do a good job of making data analysis available to the general public such as bee keepers and farmers. These actors could benefit from this information. The EPA has also failed to use the pesticide analysis in a constructive way such as through the production of regulations and policies regarding the use of certain pesticides and application methods.
Roles in CCD:The EPA focuses its efforts on pesticide analysis for the CCD Steering Committee (A committee established by the USDA to create an action plan for CCD) and creates pesticide labels that communicate the risk level to bees as well as restricting some chemicals that are extremely toxic to bees.
Influences: Although the EPA is conducting analysis for a variety of pesticides and providing labeling, it has been communicated that the EPA holds back on a lot of information they have gathered on pesticide risks. The EPA does not do a good job of making data analysis available to the general public such as bee keepers and farmers. These actors could benefit from this information. The EPA has also failed to use the pesticide analysis in a constructive way such as through the production of regulations and policies regarding the use of certain pesticides and application methods.
USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
The USDA's Agricultural Research Service conducts research to find solutions to agricultural problems to ensure the production of safe food and support the U.S. agriculture industry as well as essential natural resources.
Roles in CCD:The USDA has formed the CCD Steering Committee which is a collaboration between many agencies and researchers. The CCD Steering Committee has created a Colony Collapse Disorder Action Plan.
Influences:The development of the CCD Action Plan which has outlined the many impacts of CCD, data collection, data analysis, hypothesis, and a conclusion with prevention strategies. One main preservation strategy is to replant natural wildlands, parks, wetlands, with native pollen and nectar producing plants. By increasing plants and flowers that attract bees and produce lots of pollen and nectar, bee communities will rebound due to the bountiful amounts of nectar and pollen that they seek. Best management practices for beekeeping have been outlined and compiled into a manual that is distributed to beekeepers. Researchers are in the process of developing best management practices for pests, mites and pathogens that target bee colonies. Researchers are also looking to replace current bee species with ones that are resistant to pathogens and mites. I think the USDA has the greatest influence on the health of bee colonies as they have organized the CCD Steering Committee which has united the EPA, Natural Resources Conservation Service,many USDA branches, research teams and the Department of Defense. Through this union, thorough research has been conducted for all impacts on bees and multiple prevention and restoration strategies have been established These strategies aim to reduce CCD and the impacts leading to CCD as well as restore bee populations.
Roles in CCD:The USDA has formed the CCD Steering Committee which is a collaboration between many agencies and researchers. The CCD Steering Committee has created a Colony Collapse Disorder Action Plan.
Influences:The development of the CCD Action Plan which has outlined the many impacts of CCD, data collection, data analysis, hypothesis, and a conclusion with prevention strategies. One main preservation strategy is to replant natural wildlands, parks, wetlands, with native pollen and nectar producing plants. By increasing plants and flowers that attract bees and produce lots of pollen and nectar, bee communities will rebound due to the bountiful amounts of nectar and pollen that they seek. Best management practices for beekeeping have been outlined and compiled into a manual that is distributed to beekeepers. Researchers are in the process of developing best management practices for pests, mites and pathogens that target bee colonies. Researchers are also looking to replace current bee species with ones that are resistant to pathogens and mites. I think the USDA has the greatest influence on the health of bee colonies as they have organized the CCD Steering Committee which has united the EPA, Natural Resources Conservation Service,many USDA branches, research teams and the Department of Defense. Through this union, thorough research has been conducted for all impacts on bees and multiple prevention and restoration strategies have been established These strategies aim to reduce CCD and the impacts leading to CCD as well as restore bee populations.
Apiary Managers/Bee Keepers
Apiary Managers also know as bee keepers, have two objectives with honey bee colonies. They manage hives for farmers to provide colonies of pollinators near the source of the crops. They also manage hives to harvest honey for their own source of profit.
Roles in CCD:Bee keepers roles within CCD is to keep records of the managing practices that are used such as the type of diet and nutrition they provide for the bees. This is important information to share with researchers and other bee keepers to find what methods work and what methods harm the colonies.
Influences:Provide records to researchers and other bee keepers to narrow down what managing strategies are successful or unsuccessful for bee keeping. Bee keepers stay updated on best management practices for managing healthy bee hives. Bee keepers have direct influence on the health and productivity of their hives. When hives are managed properly following the newest best management practices, bee colonies have a higher success rate.
Roles in CCD:Bee keepers roles within CCD is to keep records of the managing practices that are used such as the type of diet and nutrition they provide for the bees. This is important information to share with researchers and other bee keepers to find what methods work and what methods harm the colonies.
Influences:Provide records to researchers and other bee keepers to narrow down what managing strategies are successful or unsuccessful for bee keeping. Bee keepers stay updated on best management practices for managing healthy bee hives. Bee keepers have direct influence on the health and productivity of their hives. When hives are managed properly following the newest best management practices, bee colonies have a higher success rate.
Farmers and Agriculture Industry
Farmers produce crops for profit, to have a successful crop production many farmers have hives on site for pollination. Farmers use many different chemical fertilizers and pesticides which have been found to contribute to the decline of bees.
Roles in CCD:Farmers are required to keep detailed records of pesticides and chemicals that they use, where they used it, how much and what the weather conditions were that day(windy,etc.) This is essential information for targeting and making correlations between which pesticides are being used the most and the effects they may have on bees.
Influences: Provide pesticide records to researchers for conducting pesticide analysis for detecting which pesticides are being over-used and contributing to bee decline. Keeping up with the newest information on what pesticides are most toxic to bees and which pesticides are better to use. As well as following best management practices for applying pesticides, such as best times to apply, ideal weather conditions, etc. By keeping records of pesticide applications and practices and following best management practices, farmers influence the health of their local bee colonies. Farmers have direct influence on the success of bees by reducing negative impacts on bee populations.
Roles in CCD:Farmers are required to keep detailed records of pesticides and chemicals that they use, where they used it, how much and what the weather conditions were that day(windy,etc.) This is essential information for targeting and making correlations between which pesticides are being used the most and the effects they may have on bees.
Influences: Provide pesticide records to researchers for conducting pesticide analysis for detecting which pesticides are being over-used and contributing to bee decline. Keeping up with the newest information on what pesticides are most toxic to bees and which pesticides are better to use. As well as following best management practices for applying pesticides, such as best times to apply, ideal weather conditions, etc. By keeping records of pesticide applications and practices and following best management practices, farmers influence the health of their local bee colonies. Farmers have direct influence on the success of bees by reducing negative impacts on bee populations.
