Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

 

“The importance of bees and other pollinators cannot be underestimated.  Nearly 130 different crops - totaling over $15 billion in annual farm gate value - depend on pollination to grow.  Simply put, if there are no bees, there is no way for our nation’s farmers to continue to grow the high quality, nutritious foods our country relies on,” Cardoza said. “Testimony today also revealed that the lack of pollinators could further increase food prices.  USDA desperately needs to better coordinate their research and response to this ongoing crisis, and more clearly define their needs, so that Congress can adequately respond.”

 

Today’s hearing marks the second House Agriculture Committee hearing in the 110^th Congress to examine the health of pollinators and the threat of colony collapse disorder in honey bee colonies across the United States. Chairman Cardoza called the first ever Congressional hearing devoted to this topic in March 2007 after hearing about the rising cost of bees from farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. 

 

The Subcommittee heard testimony from researchers and entomologists, commercial beekeepers, and agricultural producers that depend on bees for pollination of their crops. Honeybees are the most economically valuable pollinators of farm crops in the world, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and forage crops. Bee pollination of agricultural crops accounts for one-third of the American diet. In California the top agricultural products such as almonds, walnut, cherries, melons and countless others are totally dependent on annual pollination by honey bees.

 

The opening statements of all witnesses are available on the Committee website at http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html.