How Does a Honey Bee Queen Avoid Inbreeding in Her Colony?

UPPSALA UNIVERSITY Matthew Webster and Andreas Wallberg at Uppsala University, have studied recombination in honeybees. Credit: Petra Korall Recombination, or crossing-over, occurs when sperm and egg cells are formed and segments of each chromosome pair are interchanged. This process plays an crucial role in the maintanance of genetic variation. Matthew Webster and Andreas Wallberg at the Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, have studied …

US Summer Forecast: Northeast to Endure More 90-Degree Days Than in 2014; Extreme Drought to Expand in West

AccuWeather Global Weather Center - April 29, 2015 - AccuWeather reported  this summer, warmth and dryness will build in the West, worsening the historical drought conditions that have plagued California for four straight years. Meanwhile, the Gulf Coast will have an abundance of moisture, raising concerns for flooding at times. In the nation's midsection, severe weather is forecast to continue into summer, …

USDA Announces Record Number of Organic Producers in U.S.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the organic industry continues to show remarkable growth domestically and globally, with 19,474 certified organic operations in the United States and a total of 27,814 certified organic operations around the world. According to data released by the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP), the number …

USDA to Issue Disaster Assistance to Help Honeybee, Livestock and Farm-Raised Fish Producers

"Farm Bill Program Offers Producers Relief for 2014 Losses in more than 40 States" WASHINGTON, April 6, 2015 – The U.S.Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency today announced that nearly 2,700 applicants will begin receiving disaster assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm- Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses experienced from Oct. 1, 2013, through Sept. 30, …

Rapid Increase in Neonicotinoid Insecticides Driven by Seed Treatments

(Courtesy of PENN STATE) Use of a class of insecticides, called neonicotinoids, increased dramatically in the mid-2000s and was driven almost entirely by the use of corn and soybean seeds treated with the pesticides. Image shows treated soybean seeds (blue), versus untreated soybean seeds at the top and treated corn seeds (red) versus untreated corn seeds at the bottom. (Credit: Ian Grettenberger, Penn State) Use of …

EPA Announces It Is Unlikely to Approve New Outdoor Neonicotinoid Pesticide Uses

As part of EPA's ongoing effort to protect pollinators, the Agency has sent letters to registrants of neonicotinoid pesticides with outdoor uses informing them that EPA will likely not be in a position to approve most applications for new uses of these chemicals until new bee data have been submitted and pollinator risk assessments are complete. The letters reiterate that …

Ringing in Spring!

(Courtesy of the National Honey Board) The end of March ushered in the official first day of spring, so in April we would like to celebrate the spring honey harvest with some fun, bright and light recipes that will help you shake off the chill and gloom of winter and prepare yourself for the sunshine of spring. From a savory leg of …