Calilfornia honeybees may be getting their own health plan.
With bee populations declining across the country, the California Assembly has passed a measure led by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, D-Tracy, to create a “Honeybee Health Program” under the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The bill will next be considered by the state Senate.
The crisis isn’t as much about honey production as it is the critical role that bees play in pollinating nut trees and other crops. A survey by the Apiary Inspectors of America found that 55.1% of the bee colonies checked had died off in the year that ended April 1, 2024 — the highest rate since the 2010-2011 survey…