The UK is not the only place to worry about a decrease in domestic bee populations. California agriculture is in deep trouble due to honey bee losses. With 88,000 farms and ranches, agriculture is a major industry for the golden state that generates $100 billion a year. For the last 50 years, California has claimed the status of being the most productive agriculture state. The industry is incredibly diverse as well, with up to 350 different types of plants and animals.

But today the industry is in grave danger because of the disappearance of the insects that are responsible for the necessary pollination of the plants. There has been a 35% decline in bee colonies since last winter. According to scientists and bee keepers, the populations of bees, wasps and butterflies are all in a major decline.

At the moment, the cause for the decline is unexplained. However, scientists have some suspected causes. Systemic pesticides disrupt insect neurology causing navigation failure due to memory loss. Another cause could be the loss of habitat and the introduction of pests and diseases. A recent noticeable issue the vast amount of monocultures of single crops that create "floral deserts" when the crops are not in bloom could also be a contributing factor. Whatever the cause, scientists are reiterating the fact that plants need bees and insects to pollinate, and today some of these plants are at an extreme risk of extinction.

The US Congress is attempting to help the situation. Recently they provided a five year farm bill that would spend a few million dollars trying to save the bees. However, they would most likely be spending billions of dollars on farm subsidy policies that contribute their destruction. The Bush administration is trying to divert money towards environmental and nutrition programs in the farm bill. Congressional negotiators want to raise more tax revenue to expand subsidies at the expense of these programs.

Whatever the decision, most scientists and beekeepers agree that something must be done to research the causes and develop a solution as quickly as possible.

Judith Redmond, a partner at Full Belly Farm, an organic produce grower in Capay Valley, north of San Francisco, California, said "We don't know what all problems are with honeybees, but what we do know is there are 4,000 species of native pollinators. They are very efficient at pollinating specific crops. They need habitat. Very clearly from our farm experience and research done on our farm, the habitats that we've installed here have made a difference in the pollinator population." (Quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle")

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