National Honey Bee Advisory Board Goes to Washington

Group Makes Useful Contacts During Visit

The newly formed National Honey Bee Advisory Board (NHBAB) represents jointly the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) and the American Honey Producers Association (AHPA).  The group recently had pleasure of touring the White House bee hive as guests of Charlie Brandts (White House staff carpenter and beekeeper) during its trip to Washington, D.C., on June 2, 2009.

During its week in June, the NHBAB met with Bayer Crop Science, lead pesticide policy officials at both the EPA and USDA, and the key pesticide staffers at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

During its short time on the job, the group has made useful contacts in these key organizations.  The wheels and levers, which control the machinery in Washington, are a complex apparatus.  In all these seemingly faceless organizations are real, hard working people who want to see the right thing happen and truly want to make a difference.  The NHBAB had the opportunity to get to know some of these faces behind these large organizations, businesses and bureaucracies.

Pesticide policy in the United States needs to better protect pollinators.  In an effort to make this happen, the NHBAB has been engaged in making contacts, establishing a dialogue in an effort to define the issues most in need of change.  Already, the EPA has agreed to improve incident reporting for honeybees by developing a special direct portal on the Internet for beekeepers.

Reporting bee kills is a crucial first step for understanding why, when and how problems are occurring.  By reporting pesticide kills, beekeepers will be helping to assemble a data base which will help to better identify recurring misuses of chemicals.  The NHBAB strongly encourages all beekeepers to help out by reporting all suspected pesticide kills.  The EPA's lead contact may be reached at mastrota.nicholas@epa.gov.

Progress is being made by keeping the issue of pollinator protection public.  Through proper pesticide use and improved toxicity research, the NHBAB believes it can improve the "climate" for the essential pollinators of the country.

posted August 2009