© 2024 WFAE
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Health Of The Honeybees

hspace=8
hspace=8

What's happening to all the honeybees? It's a question we've been asking now for years and finding an answer is essential to the health of our environment, food supply and the economy. Honeybees are crucial in pollinating fruits, vegetables and nuts and their numbers have been declining sharply in recent years - about 30 percent of all colonies have died every winter in the U.S. since 2007. The alarming declines are causing many concerns and some are calling it a wake-up call for the U.S. and world. Most recently, President Obama announced a task force of various agencies to create a federal strategy to promote the health of honeybees and other pollinators. We'll talk about the importance of bees, theories about what's happening to them, check in on the health of our local bee populations, explore the implications for agriculture and the economy and find out what we can do in our own backyards.

Don Hopkins - Apiary Inspection Supervisor, Plant Industry Division, NC Dept. of Agriculture

Dr. Mike Simone-Finstrom - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dept. of Entomology, NC State University

Libby Mack - Local beekeeper and owner ofCharlotte Local Honey

Stay Connected