Wild bee decline threatens US crop production

[cronus]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 193528.htm

Wild bee decline threatens US crop production

The first national study to map U.S. wild bees suggests they're disappearing in many of the country's most important farmlands--including California's Central Valley, the Midwest's corn belt, and the Mississippi River valley.

If losses of these crucial pollinators continue, the new nationwide assessment indicates that farmers will face increasing costs--and that the problem may even destabilize the nation's crop production.

Of particular concern, the study shows that some of the crops most dependent on pollinators--including pumpkins, watermelons, pears, peaches, plums, apples and blueberries--have the strongest pollination mismatch, with a simultaneous drop in wild bee supply and increase in pollination demand. "These are the crops most likely to run into pollination trouble," says Taylor Ricketts, "whether that's increased costs for managed pollinators, or even destabilized yields."

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[pErvinalia]

But farmed bees are making a comeback. I think the apocalypse will come some other way.

[cronus]

But farmed bees are making a comeback. I think the apocalypse will come some other way.

Maybe, what if civil war comes to America after some Trump win sets the long awaited great US unravelling in motion? a war that shuts down farmed bee production? I'd give it a 30% chance...moving to 50% as we move closer to the coming years end, depending on exit polls showing a Trump win.

[pErvinalia]

Trump will ban foreign bees.

[laklak]

It's an ill wind, etc. Saw a big truck parked in an orange grove, with hundreds of bee hives on the trailer. You rent out the bees and sell the honey. Plus you can feel all green and Mother Naturey.

[Strontium Dog]

Crumbs. How on earth will Americans survive if they don't get their five a day?!