Now we have another reason to love March, other than celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and watching basketball. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has proclaimed March 14 as Iowa Honey Bee Day.
What better reason to commemorate the cusp of spring than to recognize these important creatures. Honey bees and native pollinators are responsible for a third of the food we eat. Honey bees also are vital in the production of more than 90 crops grown across the nation, many of which are in Iowa.
Iowa has more than 4,500 beekeepers, representing hobbyists, sideliners as part-time businesses, and full-time commercial beekeepers. Hobby beekeepers have as few as one hive; commercial operations have thousands of hives.
Traditionally, you would have seen honey bee hives only on rural areas. Beekeeping increasingly occurs in urban areas with the rising interest of hobby beekeepers.
The special day also celebrates the State of Iowa’s active and important apiary inspection program to protect honey bees (and the problems that arise for their keepers) from introduction and spread of apiary diseases and pests.
Honey bees also face very serious threats from invasive pests, decreasing bee-friendly forage, variable climate and increasing pesticide and herbicide pressure.
Many thanks to the Iowa Honey Producers Association that organized this first-in-Iowa event, and for proving valuable information for its growing membership of beekeepers and bee supporters.
The Iowa Honey Producers is hosting a breakfast reception for legislators at the State Capitol in Des Moines. Feel free to join them from 7 to 9 am in Conference Room 116. If you cannot make it, be sure to let your legislator know the importance of honey bees and the support of a state apiarist and inspection program.
And do your part by always buying Iowa honey!
More about the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s apiary program
More about Iowa Honey Bee Day
Bee Lady Honey 