MARCH 13 UPDATE: The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the House!

I heard the buzz at the Iowa Statehouse in February. It was all about bees.

First, the Iowa Honey Producers Association hosted a breakfast reception on February 13 for legislators and dozens of beekeepers from throughout the state. Eleven counties and 29 cities in Iowa also proclaimed February 13 as Iowa Honey Bee Day.

There’s also a move to name the honey bee as the official state insect. Senate Joint Resolution 2004 passed out of the Senate State Government Committee recently by a unanimous vote. It has been placed on the calendar and now ready for Senate Floor debate.

Let’s hope the resolution makes it. Iowa is only one of two states that doesn’t have an official insect.

What’s more, honey production is an important part of our state’s agricultural economy.

And if that’s not enough, pollination of crops by bees is even more important. In limited soybean field trials, honey bee pollination accounted for an 8 percent increase in yields.

It all adds up for me: Let’s honor the honey bee and proclaim it the official state insect. It’s about time!