Bees are a vital resource for pollination of Michigan’s diverse crop production and added value of the honey produced.
Some pesticides can harm honeybees and even destroy whole colonies. We urge beekeepers, farmers and pesticide applicators to cooperate to reduce honeybee losses.
Beekeeping (apiculture) is a specialized form of agriculture and should be recognized under the Right to Farm Act by local, state and national regulatory bodies.
We support:
Research finding practical, effective means of controlling or reducing the infection from Varroa mites, tracheal mites, small hive beetles— and continued study into all diseases affecting bee colonies.
The inclusion of apiaries under paragraph 9.4 of the Wildlife Conservation Order, subsection (1). We encourage the Department of Natural Resources to be proactive in the protecting of Michigan’s pollinators.
Michigan Farm Bureau working with state and federal agencies to resolve issues regarding plant species in Michigan and their importance to the Michigan bee industry, such as changes to USDA conservation programs that allow for planting flowering cover crops and pollination plantings that emphasize the health benefits for the bee colonies.
Increasing the number of veterinarians and expanding the animal health tools available for the bee industry.