Michigan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A possible breakthrough regarding colony collapse disorder (CCD) makes the recent bee grant for fiscal year 2008 even more relevant.

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), a division of USDA, announced earlier this month it will grant $4 million in fiscal year 2008 for a four-year Coordinated Agricultural Project for bee research. The research money is supposed to help beekeepers and bee researchers find ways to preserve honey bee health in light of CCD, a disease which only came to light about a year ago.

CCD is the term that describes the unexplained disappearance of most or all of a bee colony. According to the Agricultural Research Service, CCD is responsible for a 30-90 percent loss of hives for some beekeepers. Researchers are trying to find a definitive answer as to what is making the bees disappear (refer to related article).

Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, the lone Michigan member of the House Agriculture Committee, applauded the announcement. “Honeybees are vital pollinators in fruits, vegetables and other crops in our farming community and a vital member of our ecosystem,” Walberg said in a prepared statement.

“With this year’s colony collapse, we must learn more about how we can protect them in Michigan to keep our food supply and agriculture community healthy and vibrant.”

For more information about the bee grant, including eligibility requirements and application procedures, call Mary Purcell-Miramontes at 202-401-5168 or visit the CSREES website at www.csrees.usda.gov