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Posted on May 25, 2023 in Audio, Editorial, Featured, Your Texas Agriculture Minute

YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

 

News buzz…Texas bees poised for rebound in 2023

By Gary Joiner
Publisher

There’s some good news about the Texas bee population.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service says our state’s bee numbers are in good shape for late spring and early summer recovery.

Drought and other harsh weather conditions knocked them back in recent years.

Improved forage and nectar-producing resources this year means more honey production for Texas beekeepers. A proliferation of the types of wildflowers bees prefer for gathering their nectar has beekeepers optimistic.

Texas typically ranks sixth among states for honey production.

Plus, bees are critical in agricultural production.

Bees are responsible for pollinating 75% of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of the world’s crops. Honeybees are the most common pollinator.

It is estimated that the honeybee’s annual contribution to the U.S. economy is at least $15 billion. More than 90 different crops—about one-third of total crop production in the U.S.—depend on bees for their survival.

Bees also pollinate crops that feed cattle, such as clover and alfalfa, making them very important to both the beef cattle and dairy industries.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

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