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History of Beekeeping
Humans have had interaction with honey bees for centuries. Records indicate that humans began consuming honey and wax around 10,000 years ago and began a form of beekeeping 7,000 years ago (11).
From the first time honeybees were being raised by humans to the modern beekeeping practices we have today, innovative ideas have helped contribute to the progression of beekeeping. For the longest time, people kept honey bees in wooden boxes, straw skeps, pottery vessels, and other containers. Of these, the straw skeps were the first to be used in the American Colonies (10). The honeycomb produced by the colonies in these structures could not be removed. Some came up with ways to remove the honey without killing the colonies by building structures with removable tops, for example. In 1852, a man by the name of L. L. Langstroth designed a hive with moveable frames which is an innovation still used in modern beekeeping (10). Before Langstroth’s invention, honey was extracted either by cutting the bee trees, killing the colonies, or getting the honey that was stored in a crude super or cap.
Overtime, with the development of new innovations, commercial beekeeping became established. After World War I, the increased construction of infrastructure and use of motorized vehicles helped expand the beekeeping industry. In 1957, it was estimated that there were over 1,200 professional beekeepers who managed 1,440,000 colonies (10).
Humans have had interaction with honey bees for centuries. Records indicate that humans began consuming honey and wax around 10,000 years ago and began a form of beekeeping 7,000 years ago (11).
From the first time honeybees were being raised by humans to the modern beekeeping practices we have today, innovative ideas have helped contribute to the progression of beekeeping. For the longest time, people kept honey bees in wooden boxes, straw skeps, pottery vessels, and other containers. Of these, the straw skeps were the first to be used in the American Colonies (10). The honeycomb produced by the colonies in these structures could not be removed. Some came up with ways to remove the honey without killing the colonies by building structures with removable tops, for example. In 1852, a man by the name of L. L. Langstroth designed a hive with moveable frames which is an innovation still used in modern beekeeping (10). Before Langstroth’s invention, honey was extracted either by cutting the bee trees, killing the colonies, or getting the honey that was stored in a crude super or cap.
Overtime, with the development of new innovations, commercial beekeeping became established. After World War I, the increased construction of infrastructure and use of motorized vehicles helped expand the beekeeping industry. In 1957, it was estimated that there were over 1,200 professional beekeepers who managed 1,440,000 colonies (10).
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Nowadays, most people have beekeeping operations as a hobby. Of the 212,000 beekeepers in the United States, 200,000 of them are considered to be hobbyists. There are around 10,000 people that participate in beekeeping as a side job, or part-time, while there are approximately 2,000 commercial producers with over 300 colonies that account for 60 percent of the honey production on an annual basis (12).
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Pollination
The most important contribution the honey bee has to human life is its ability to pollinate certain crops. It is estimated that honey bees have a value of $14 billion dollars to the U.S. crop industry through their pollination methods (13). Their contribution is invaluable. They are responsible for pollinating numerous crops including apples, cranberries, melons, broccoli, blueberries, cherries, etc. Some crops depend on honey bee pollination at varying percents but crops, such as almonds, depend entirely upon pollination from a honey bee. Honey bees help increase yields and contribute to modern agriculture by assisting in the production of a safe food supply. Currently, there is said to be over 2.4 million honey bee colonies in the United States and approximately two-thirds of them travel around pollinating crops as well as producing honey and beeswax for human use (13). The success of the beekeeping industry directly impacts American agriculture and our economy.
The most important contribution the honey bee has to human life is its ability to pollinate certain crops. It is estimated that honey bees have a value of $14 billion dollars to the U.S. crop industry through their pollination methods (13). Their contribution is invaluable. They are responsible for pollinating numerous crops including apples, cranberries, melons, broccoli, blueberries, cherries, etc. Some crops depend on honey bee pollination at varying percents but crops, such as almonds, depend entirely upon pollination from a honey bee. Honey bees help increase yields and contribute to modern agriculture by assisting in the production of a safe food supply. Currently, there is said to be over 2.4 million honey bee colonies in the United States and approximately two-thirds of them travel around pollinating crops as well as producing honey and beeswax for human use (13). The success of the beekeeping industry directly impacts American agriculture and our economy.
Honey Bee Population on the Decline
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For years now, the population of the honey bee has been decreasing. However, in 2006, beekeepers reported a 30-90 percent decrease in their colonies (14). This sudden decrease in population is weakening honey bee colonies which soon will be unable to function if population gets too low. The collapse of these colonies has been more properly named as the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).
Researchers are unsure of the cause behind the Colony Collapse Disorder. However, there is speculation that the use of pesticides and insecticides, the influx of the varroa mite, the spread of diseases and viruses, poor nutrition, habitat loss, and stressful circumstances, are contributing factors (14). The symptoms of CCD are fairly obvious. If a colony consists of a very low or nonexistent population of adult honey bees, a live queen, no present dead honey bees, and present immature bees, then CCD most likely occurred in that particular hive (15). This unexplainable decrease in the honey bee population is quite alarming. Considering the fact that the honey bee raises crop value by $14 billion dollars each year, their population decrease can have detrimental impacts on American agriculture and the economy.
What can we do to help the situation? For one, we can monitor our use of pesticides and not use them extensively. Honey bees are usually out collecting nectar and pollen during the mid-day so choosing not to spray during that time would be best. Also, incorporating plants into the landscape that bees can collect nectar and pollen from is a great way help contribute. Some good plant choices for this purpose include red clover, fox glove, bee balm, joe-pye weed, and other native plants.
Researchers are unsure of the cause behind the Colony Collapse Disorder. However, there is speculation that the use of pesticides and insecticides, the influx of the varroa mite, the spread of diseases and viruses, poor nutrition, habitat loss, and stressful circumstances, are contributing factors (14). The symptoms of CCD are fairly obvious. If a colony consists of a very low or nonexistent population of adult honey bees, a live queen, no present dead honey bees, and present immature bees, then CCD most likely occurred in that particular hive (15). This unexplainable decrease in the honey bee population is quite alarming. Considering the fact that the honey bee raises crop value by $14 billion dollars each year, their population decrease can have detrimental impacts on American agriculture and the economy.
What can we do to help the situation? For one, we can monitor our use of pesticides and not use them extensively. Honey bees are usually out collecting nectar and pollen during the mid-day so choosing not to spray during that time would be best. Also, incorporating plants into the landscape that bees can collect nectar and pollen from is a great way help contribute. Some good plant choices for this purpose include red clover, fox glove, bee balm, joe-pye weed, and other native plants.