The Role of Bees in Agriculture: What bees do, why they’re disappearing, and what we can do to help

It's finally springtime, and as the weather warms and flowers bloom, it's time for the honeybees to get to work! We all know honeybees play an essential role in agriculture, but how much do these little workers actually do? What would agriculture look like without them, and if they're so important, why are they disappearing? Today, we'll look at the role of bees in US agriculture, the threats honeybees currently face, and what we can do to help.

Honeybees are incredible pollinators. In fact, about $15 billion worth of crops in the US rely on bees, and approximately 90 types of crops are pollinated by bees. Without these pollinators, we could no longer enjoy apples, melons, cranberries, pumpkins, squash, broccoli, and more! Plus, with the rise in popularity of organic honey, honeybees add value to our markets, producing about $339 million worth of honey each year. They also pollinate 80% of all flowering plants. So, the bottom line? Many of our favorite foods would not exist without honeybees, and the world would be far less colorful!

As many know, honeybee populations have declined dramatically in recent years, sparking action among many agricultural and environmental groups. While these efforts have seemingly stabilized commercial honeybee populations, the numbers are still far from what they once were.

But why did this happen in the first place? Unfortunately, several factors have contributed to the decline of honeybee populations.Bees face various threats, including diseases, pesticides, limited floral resources, harsh winter weather, habitat loss, and more. While these are significant threats, there are some easy, practical things we can do at home to help our honeybees flourish again.

If you're interested in helping our bee friends, here are a few easy steps you can take:
1. Plant a pollinator garden
2. Enhance nesting spots by planting bamboo stalks or "nesting straws"
3. Switch from pesticides to organic herbicides when possible
4. Apply pesticides early or late in the day to avoid active foraging times

Honeybees may be small, but they significantly impact our agricultural landscape. Without them, our farms and plates would look completely different. Preserving farmland also preserves the land's natural habitats and resources. Farmland provides honeybees with ample crops and flowers to pollinate and helps farmers feed the future. If you'd like to support us in our mission at LFT, click here to sign up for our volunteer group! Check out the references below to learn more about honeybees and ways to support their growth.