Bee populations have declined over the past few years, and as these pollinators die off, our own food supply could dwindle. Scientists are researching a variety of causes, including controversial pesticides and a tiny parasite.
In this interview, beekeeper Dr. John Skinner discusses this issue--and it's a complicated one.
Dr. Skinner is a professor at the University of Tennessee's Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, and he's coming here to The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on June 9th at 6 p.m. to give an in-depth talk on pollinators and pesticides.
The lecture, which will take in the University Center's Raccoon Mountain Room, is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by The Tennessee Valley Chapter of the Wild Ones and the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences.
From the Tennessee Valley Wild OnesWeb site:
Doctor John Skinner from University of Tennessee’s Entomology and Plant Pathology Department will address the vexing issue of chemical pesticides and their effects on pollinators. This informational session is a must for gardeners, landscapers, and beekeepers. Doctor Skinner is an avid beekeeper and has hands-on experience caring for honeybees. The meeting will be held in the Raccoon Mountain Room in the University of Tennessee Chattanooga University Center. The UC is located on 5th Street across from the confederate cemetery. The Raccoon Mountain room is located directly across from the UTC Bookstore.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has created an extensive online guide to beekeeping and bee health. Their Web site features resources about bee diseases and pests, colony collapse disorder, pesticides and much more.
The UT Institute of Agriculture has also created hundreds of videos on these topics and other ecological issues.