Bee Decline

Bee decline in Minnesota is growing at an alarming rate. Minnesota provides a home for over 400 species of native bees. Their decline is harder to measure but has an equal effect on the state. The key item that bee decline is affecting most in Minnesota is the crops that depend on a bee's pollination. There are many Minnesota grown foods that need pollination to grow. Some of these crops are berries, apples, apricots, cucumbers, melons and squash. Minnesota's largest fruit crop is apples. This crop is important to Minnesota and has a value of 11.8 million dollars. According to history, Minnesota is one of the top producers of honey in the country. Honey production provides an average of eleven million dollars to Minnesota's agricultural economy. Neonicitinoids are being used in Minnesota, which is causing major increases in bee decline. If a bee is exposed to a large amount of this chemical, they can die extremely fast. If they are exposed to a small amount for a long period of time, their immune systems can be weakened. Neonicitinoids obstruct their ability to reproduce, forage for food, and communicate and navigate. Without bees, Minnesota wouldn't be able to produce crops like apples and melons or honey. Their economy would also struggle. Overall, bees are very important to the success of Minnesota.