Honey bee colony collapse disorder progress report released

USDA has released the 2010 Colony Collapse Disorder Progress Report highlighting current research on this disease affecting the nation's honey bees. CCD, a syndrome characterized by the sudden disappearance of all adult honey bees in a colony, was first recognized in 2006. Since then, surveys of beekeepers indicate that the industry is suffering losses of more than 30% annually. Before the occurrence of CCD, losses averaged 15-20% annually from a variety of factors such as varroa mites and other pests and pathogens.
The report, which was mandated by Congress in 2008, summarizes research by federal agencies, state departments of agriculture, universities and private organizations to find the cause of CCD and how to stop or mitigate its impact.
“Honey bees are critical to U.S. agriculture, with about 130 crops depending on pollination to add more than $15 billion in crop value annually,” said USDA-Agricultural Research Service administrator Edward B. Knipling.
During the past three years, numerous causes for CCD have been proposed and investigated. Although the cause or causes of CCD are still unknown, research summarized in the report supports the hypothesis that CCD may be a syndrome caused by many different factors, that work individually or in combination