State Protects Bees; Local Beekeeper Approves
KOSCIUSKO — In response to President Barack Obama’s call to help promote honeybee health in June 2014, the Office of the Indiana State Chemist and the Indiana Pesticide Review Board, which are housed at Purdue University, began developing a Managed Pollinator Protection Plan for the state.
The key objectives of the plan include: reducing pesticide exposure to bees and other pollinators through timely communication and coordination among stakeholders and increasing foraging, shelter, nesting and brooding areas. More information on implementation and progress of that plan can be found by clicking here. What do local beekeepers think of the state’s efforts?
“That’s the right direction, but we need everyone on board to make this work. That includes the co-ops, the farmers and the pesticide companies,” said Danny Slabaugh, owner and operator of Slabaugh Apiaries in Nappanee. He’s been beekeeping for more than 20 years.
Slabaugh had a lot to say, particularly on the subject of neonicotinoids, a kind of pesticide applied to a crop seed shell. “Whatever the queen is doing right now is what is going to effect what the hive is doing in 42 days. If the queen isn’t laying eggs at the correct rate due to the neonicotinoids on the farmer’s seeds, then there won’t be enough foragers to supply the hive with honey.”
In an effort to assist with pollinator habitat expansion statewide, ISDA met with a variety of stakeholders in three working groups over the summer to discuss issues such as habitat expansion, funding opportunities, best practices for promoting pollinator health as well as community outreach. The recommendation that came out of the working groups was for ISDA to aggregate resources and develop a web portal, which would serve as a focal point for information, highlighting the efforts of nonprofit groups, governmental organizations and communities on pollinator habitat expansion.
Slabaugh has his own plans for helping promote honeybee health. “What we’re doing right now is trying to grow local bees that are building up immunity to the northern climates rather then the southern breed who are not acclimated … (Trying to use southern bees in the north) It’s like planting a palm tree in your yard and expecting it to do well in the winter.”
For more information on what the state is doing to promote honeybee health, visit this website.