Let's See It From Both Sides: Perspectives of Farmers and Commercial Beekeepers on Protection of Honey Bees
Marla Spivak, Robert Koch and Theresa Cira
University of Minnesota Extension, January 2018
Our goal is to foster communication between commercial beekeepers and corn and soybean farmers, groups that have more common than they may realize. We examine where tension exists regarding how to best protect honey bee colonies while ensuring crop production and supporting the livelihoods of both groups of producers in Minnesota.
Let's See it from Both Sides (.pdf)
Getting to Know Commercial Beekeepers
Marla Spivak, Robert Koch and Theresa Cira
University of Minnesota Extension, January 2018
Commercial beekeepers comprise about 5% of all the beekeepers, but own about 95% of all the honey bee colonies. Commercial beekeepers would like consideration of farmers and landowners in helping to improve bee nutritional health, colony survivorship and honey yields by planting or maintaining flowers that bloom over the growing season.