Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Adee Honey Farms, Bruce, SD



18 comments:

  1. LOVE this sign reminding us that bees are pollinatores as well as makers of honey.

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  2. Reminds me of the article in the most recent Time magazine about the disappearing honey bees which is a huge and increasing threat to much of our food supply. And it seems no one is sure why this is happening or what to do about it.

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    1. For years the problem of "hive crash" has been blamed on the use of pesticides on agricultural fields. Until a couple years ago the Adee Honey Farm thought it has more to do with poor hive maintenance until they started to experience hive crash themselves. The loss of bees is catastrophic for many food crops. Without pollination there will be no crop. China's fruit crops are now all hand pollinated as they have no surviving bees.

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  3. I hope they still have lots of bees to make lots more honey.

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  4. I read recently how the thinking is that bees in the cities have a better chance of surviving since there are not the same levels of insecticides used in urban areas as there are out in the agricultural countryside. Strange to think that that is the case. Good post.

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  5. That is a great sign -- a cute way to remind us of the importance of bees.

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  6. Cute sign! I hope they keep their bees happy. They're very necessary.

    Thanks for commenting on my sign entry.

    ~Lindy

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  7. That's a cute sign, and I use honey a lot. :)

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  8. I'd stop there! I love honey. :)

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  9. Is that Adee the Bee?!
    The sign is a good reminder that bees are for more than just honey.

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    1. They are important. About a third of our food crops are pollinated by bees, and bees are important in producing crops for animals that provide us food like clover and alfalfa. They are critical for pollinating almonds in California.

      Adee is the family name of the largest producer of honey in South Dakota, the second largest honey producing state in the nation in 2012. North Dakota produces twice as much honey.

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  10. Calling by from the Signs Meme, love your choice for the meme.

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  11. Taken, I read your response to Lowell. The hairs on my head are all standing up with fear.

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    1. Jack, there is cause for concern, but don't panic yet. In 1947 the USDA estimated there were 6 million bee colonies, by 1990 this had dropped to 3.2 million. In 2011 the number dropped to 2.6 million. The trend is clear, but this is not all due to colony collapse disorder (CCD). Likely more to do with loss of habitat due to monoculture, weed spray in road ditches, pesticide use, virus, and bee mites. Bees have a tough time in our managed environment.

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  12. Someone knows how to use words.
    That was my first thought reading the two lines.

    Almost poetic.

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