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Contact: Sam GO, Communications Director, (608) 334-0220, sam.go@wisconsin.gov
A commentary by Secretary Randy Romanski of the Wisconsin Division of Agriculture, Commerce and Shopper Safety (DATCP)
MADISON, Wis. – It’s no secret that the agriculture business is stuffed with a number of onerous work. Our state’s producers, farm staff, and processors work onerous year-round, day after day, to provide the meals, gasoline, and fiber that make up Wisconsin’s $104.8 billion agriculture business. However there’s one other class of small-but-mighty staff that additionally assist hold our agriculture business thriving: the honey bee.
In 2022, Wisconsin ranked eleventh within the nation for the manufacturing of honey. With roughly 53,000 honey producing hives within the state, we produced almost 3 million kilos of this sticky-sweet substance, making Wisconsin honey an $8.86 million business. At DATCP, we’re proud to work with beekeepers, and with the Wisconsin Honey Producers Affiliation, to assist defend our state’s bees and market the scrumptious Wisconsin commodity.
However honey bees do rather more than simply produce a scrumptious product that we like to eat. They’re pollinators that play a necessary position within the development of varied produce crops within the state. A lot of our favourite meals are partially or totally reliant on insect pollinators to supply fruit, together with cranberries, apples, strawberries, and tomatoes, amongst others. Different pollinators, like flower flies, butterflies, and hummingbirds, additionally provide essential contributions to crop and wildflower pollination.
By means of state statutes, DATCP is tasked with overseeing the state’s beekeeping business and monitoring for the detection and eradication of honey bee pests and ailments. As well as, the division regulates the import of honey bees and beekeeping tools into the state. By means of the Pollinator Safety Plan DATCP first developed in 2016, the division additionally educates and empowers householders, gardeners, farmers, and pesticide applicators to do what they will to guard pollinators, our meals provide, and our agricultural economic system.
Brian Kuhn, Director of DATCP’s Plant Business Bureau just lately acknowledged, “DATCP employees work to advertise honey bee well being, from offering certificates to seasoned industrial beekeepers to allow them to transport their bees to different states for crop pollination to hobbyists simply getting began who want recommendation. We additionally attain out to beekeepers from out-of-state in search of to carry bees to Wisconsin to make sure import necessities are met.”
DATCP additionally helps the beekeeping business by using an Apiary Program Coordinator and two different inspectors devoted solely to the state’s apiary business and hobbyists. Apiary program employees present free seasonal inspections, pest and illness diagnostic companies, and academic outreach for over 250 honey producers and industrial pollinators every year. In addition they present administration suggestions for established pests like Varroa mites and ailments like European foulbrood. Employees gather honey bee samples every year as a part of a nationwide survey in an try to detect rising threats to beekeepers, like Tropilaelaps mites.
DATCP is at the moment present process a nationwide recruitment to fill the essential position of Apiary Program Coordinator. Candidates are inspired to use by March 25. For extra details about the place or to use, go to Wisc.Jobs.
Merely put, honey bees are an essential component of Wisconsin agriculture, working alongside us to maintain our flowering crops thriving. To search out out extra about how one can assist defend managed and wild pollinators, go to https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/PollinatorProtection.aspx.
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