FISHER, AG SECRETARY MAKE SITE VISIT TO SOUTH JERSEY BEE FARM  

Lawmaker, Cabinet Official Working to Help Farmers, Bee Keepers
Weather Impact of Mysterious Bee Hive Malady

(ELK TOWNSHIP) - Assemblyman Douglas H. Fisher and state Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus toured a South Jersey bee farm to gain first-hand insights into the mysterious "Colony Collapse Disorder," which has devastated thousands of honey bee colonies and jeopardized a wide range of crops across the state.

Assemblyman Fisher and Secretary Kuperus joined Bob Harvey at his farm, Harvey's Honey in Elk Township, to get a better understanding of the problem and discuss ways to assist apiaries, farmers and bee keepers in dealing with the confounding agricultural phenomenon.

Harvey's bee farm has experienced a nearly 50 percent reduction in its 3,800 colonies.  The farm provides a vital agricultural function by transporting tens of millions of bees by tractor-trailer to pollinate crops from Salem County to Florida. 

"New Jersey's beekeepers have experienced catastrophic losses at the hands of an unknown killer that threatens the honey bee's future in our state and across the country," said Fisher (D-Bridgeton).  "New Jersey has a responsibility to provide bee farmers with help to ensure that they recover from this baffling, devastating phenomenon."

According to the state Department of Agriculture, New Jersey's 10,000 bee colonies are a million dollar industry for the state.  Additionally, nearly $200 million worth of fruits and vegetables are produced with the pollinating help of the honey bee.

"We will work to support the researchers who are endeavoring to discover the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, so that we may begin to address this issue in a comprehensive approach that supports this very important industry in our state," said Charles M. Kuperus, New Jersey Agriculture Secretary. "New Jersey's 10,000 honeybee colonies represent a $2.5 million investment, and are vitally important in the pollination of such crops as blueberries, cranberries and squash."

Secretary Kuperus said his agriculture agency's division of plant industry will continue to monitor the situation through the Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium, a regional group focused on addressing the pest management crisis facing the beekeeping industry in the Mid-Atlantic Region. 

"Sadly, in two decades the number of beekeepers across New Jersey has nearly been cut in half," said Fisher.  "We cannot afford to lose any more of New Jersey's commercial and recreational beekeepers.  These farmers and their bees are key ingredients to our state's critically important food production industry."   

Beekeepers throughout New Jersey have reported record losses in honeybee populations over recent months while researchers continue working to determine the exact cause of the epidemic.  The mysterious phenomenon was first identified last fall and has since spread to 27 states, Brazil, Canada and parts of Europe. 

Colony collapse disorder typically involves the disappearance of adult bees from their hives, leaving only a handful of bees in the vacant hives.  The cause of the disorder is unknown, but it has been attributed to the insidious side effects caused by new types of pesticides, genetically modified crops, high tech pest controls and vegetable enhancers. 

The honey bee is responsible for pollinating an estimated 100 different food crops including apples, blueberries, cranberries and squash.  Crops pollinated by the honeybee account for nearly one-third of the human diet.

The honey bee also is  New Jersey's official state insect.
 
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