Bee vitality: We often overlook the significance of a bee perched on a nearby flower, but honey bees have a rich history with humans and are essential to producing various products. Their contributions span from honey and beeswax—used in items like cosmetics, polishes, and adhesives—to a wide range of our favorite foods. In New Mexico, honey bees play a vital role in the state’s $4 billion agricultural sector. However, like many regions across the country, they are also experiencing challenges related to Colony Collapse Disorder.
Bee Vitality
In addition to birds, bats, beetles, butterflies, and other creatures, honey bees play a crucial role in the pollination process. They transfer pollen from the male part of a plant (the anther) to the female part (the stigma), facilitating fertilization. This process allows plants to grow and produce food. As honey bees search for nectar to make honey for their hive, they simultaneously pollinate plants, aiding in their reproduction.
“Honey bees are vital to agriculture as they pollinate roughly one-third of the plants we eat, including melons, nuts, and berries,” explained Dave Lundy, co-curator of the exhibit “What’s the Buzz? Why Honey Bees Matter,” currently showcased at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road.
Honey bee vitality also play a crucial role in pollinating alfalfa, which is used as feed for cattle, according to Lundy.
Recent data from 2014 indicates that New Mexico’s agricultural sector is valued at approximately $4 billion annually in terms of raw commodities, or unprocessed goods from farms and ranches, as noted by Katie Goetz, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. This figure increases significantly when these raw commodities are processed into value-added products, such as cheese or ice cream. Research from New Mexico State University reveals that agriculture and food processing together contributed about $10.6 billion—roughly 12.3 percent—of New Mexico’s $86.5 billion gross state product in 2012.
Exploring Colony Collapse Disorder: Challenges in Bee Health
Running until June 18, the exhibit sheds light on the fascinating world of bees and underscores a pressing concern: the dwindling population of honey bees available to pollinate our crops. Since 2006, honey bees have suffered from Colony Collapse Disorder, a troubling trend where most of the worker bees vanish from a hive, leaving behind only the queen, some stored food, and a few nurse bees to care for the immature bees and the queen, as noted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“There’s no consensus among scientists, pesticide makers, government agencies, and beekeepers about the exact cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, and research is still underway,” Lundy explained. “However, it’s widely believed that multiple, interconnected factors are contributing to the issue, rather than a single cause.”
Regardless of the specifics, beekeepers and farmers in the Mesilla Valley are deeply concerned and vigilant.
Several factors potentially contribute to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), including habitat changes, insufficient nutrition, poor beekeeping practices, diseases and parasites, climate change, and pesticide exposure, as noted by the EPA. Specifically, neonicotinoid pesticides have been cited as detrimental to honey bee vitality, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Factors contributing to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) also independently threaten bees. Since 1987, the Varroa mite has been identified as the most critical issue leading to colony losses, according to the USDA. Additionally, bees face challenges from pathogens like the deformed wing virus and Nosema ceranae, a microscopic fungus that can weaken or decimate colonies, as reported by pollinator.org.
“Between April 2014 and April 2015, commercial beekeepers in the U.S. experienced a substantial loss, with approximately 42 percent of their bee colonies disappearing over the year,” Lundy noted.
A recent study by the Bee vitality Informed Partnership reveals that the situation has worsened, with beekeepers losing around 44 percent of their colonies from April 2015 to March 2016.
Beekeeping Business
Pancho Garcia, 41, who operates Garcia Honey Farm in Mesilla alongside his parents, Rose and Jerry Garcia, observed a decline in their beehives and the onset of Colony Collapse Disorder starting in 2005. These issues persisted until 2009.
Founded in 1942, Garcia Honey Farm is a family-run business and one of the two commercial bee operations in southern New Mexico. The farm manages approximately 2,500 beehives, each containing between 10,000 to 20,000 bees, spread across the southern region of the state. For generations, the Garcia family has been selling pure, raw, unfiltered honey from their “honey house,” relying on word of mouth and loyal customers to maintain their reputation.
As Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) took its toll on Garcia Honey Farm, the Garcia family experienced a significant decline in their beehive population. “Before CCD, we had around 4,000 hives,” Garcia explained. “Since then, we’ve been focused on rebuilding.”
Restoring and expanding the farm has been a challenging and laborious journey. Initially, the Garcias were uncertain about how to address the issue. Today, they employ various medications and treatments to manage and mitigate the effects of CCD.
“You have to address the problem as soon as it starts,” Garcia advised. “Failing to do so could result in losing all your beehives within a year.”
In addition to Colony Collapse Disorder, Garcia has also faced challenges with the Varroa mite and the Tracheal mite, an internal parasite that breeds in the bees’ airways.
“You won’t completely eliminate the Varroa mite, but you can manage and control its impact,” Garcia explained.
The Garcia Honey Farm has also faced several other difficulties, such as the arid desert climate, erratic winter weather, pesticide exposure, and the expansion of housing and pecan orchards in the Mesilla Valley. These developments have made it more challenging for the bee vitality to locate nectar sources, leading the Garcias to move about half of their hives to the southern and northern regions of Doña Ana County.
Gordon and Laura Solberg, who have been beekeeping since 1972 and run Sun Mountain Honey, a more modest operation, have not yet encountered Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) with their bees. However, they have faced other difficulties. Their hives are spread across the Mesilla Valley, from Radium Springs to Brazito. The Solbergs market their honey products at various locations, including the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market, Toucan Market, Natural Grocers, Mountain View Market, and also sell online through their website, sunmountainhoney.com.
Gordon Solberg recounted a significant issue they faced around 20 years ago when a severe Boll weevil outbreak (a beetle that targets cotton buds and flowers) struck. The situation led to extensive aerial spraying, which resulted in considerable damage or loss to many of their hives.
To address ongoing problems, Gordon and Laura Solberg administer annual mite treatments to their bee vitality each fall.
Gordon noted that beekeeping has evolved into a far more demanding task compared to the past. “Previously, the main concern was ensuring the hive was healthy. Now, even if a hive seems in good shape, we need to be vigilant about potential risks that could compromise its health,” he explained.
The Importance of Bees in Pollinating Major Crops
Commercial pollination has become a significant aspect of the beekeeping industry, especially for larger operations, according to Lundy.
On a May afternoon, farmer Jay Hill from Mesilla Park inspects his onion crop while bees handle the pollination.
Each year, almond growers in California import honey bee vitality from other states to pollinate their $2.3 billion crop, utilizing approximately half of the nation’s honey bees, as reported by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
“California accounts for 80 percent of the world’s almond production, and it heavily relies on commercial pollination,” Lundy noted.
Garcia explained that annually, he transports around half of his hives to California for almond pollination, a process that runs from mid-January to mid-March.
“With the almond orchards expanding and Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) continuing to impact bee populations, the demand for bees is rising steadily,” he added.
Every year, the Garcias also lease their bees for pollinating cherry and apple crops in Cloudcroft during March for several clients.
Although the Garcias don’t offer local pollination services, they maintain permanent hives at gardens and farms in the region through agreements with local farmers and produce growers.
“We provide honey, and in return, they get their crops pollinated,” Garcia explained. “They offer us space for our hives, and it benefits them as an investment by eliminating the need to rent hives.”
Jay Hill, a farmer at Hill Farms, noted that he rents bees from Clayshulte Honey Farm, the other major commercial honey operation in southern New Mexico, to ensure his crops are adequately pollinated.
Nelson Clayshulte adjusts the timing of bringing bee hives to match the flowering schedule of different crops, as Hill explained.
Hill mentioned that the number of hives brought to the farm can vary from 15 to 40, depending on the size of the field, and the bees can remain in one location for one to three months.
Hill understands the vital role honey bees play and is careful with pesticide application to avoid harming them.
“If bees are nearby where we need to spray, we either skip the application or arrange for the bees to be moved,” he said.
Health Advantages of Honey
Another reason to appreciate honey bees is the potential health benefits associated with the honey they produce.
WebMD highlights that daily consumption of honey can boost the levels of antioxidants in the blood, which help combat diseases. Additionally, honey is frequently used as a natural remedy for wound healing and to alleviate coughing.
Although not scientifically confirmed, some people believe that honey collected from local flowers can reduce seasonal allergy symptoms, as noted by the Mayo Clinic.
“When bees gather nectar, they also incorporate some pollen into the honey. Since pollen is a living food, if it hasn’t been processed or removed from the honey, consuming it can trigger an immune response. A more robust immune system can better handle various issues, including allergies,” Laura Solberg explained.
Laura Solberg also mentioned that raw honey sourced from the same flowers that trigger your allergies is most effective for allergy relief. However, she cautioned that not all raw honey is created equal.
“The term ‘raw’ is not strictly regulated,” she said. “Honey can be heated, filtered, or even adulterated and still be labeled as ‘raw’ if it’s not specified as pure honey.”
Laura Solberg of Sun Mountain Honey emphasizes that their raw honey is entirely unheated and unfiltered.
“Pollen is a living substance that can be destroyed by excessive heat. Therefore, honey that has been cooked won’t provide any benefit for allergies,” she explained. “Additionally, if the honey has been filtered, the pollen is removed, which also renders it ineffective for treating allergies.”
Ways to Support Bee Health
To support the health of honey bees, Jeff Anderson, agronomy and horticulture agent for NMSU’s Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Service, advises being mindful of the pesticides you use. It’s important to follow the instructions on the pesticide label carefully to minimize harm to bees.
Anderson explained that people often use chemical pesticides without knowing exactly which pests they are targeting, potentially harming beneficial insects in the process. “The public should carefully review the product label and ensure that they are applying the pesticide specifically to the intended pests,” he advised.
If you are uncertain about whether or when to use a particular pesticide, Anderson recommended contacting the hotline provided on the pesticide label or seeking advice from your county extension agent.
According to the Honeybee Conservancy, there are several small actions you can take to support honey bees, such as creating a garden that attracts pollinators, exploring beekeeping as a hobby, and backing local beekeepers.
Garcia noted, “If you have a beehive or a garden, you’ll be astonished by the benefits these bees bring.”
He emphasized that he and his family hold a deep respect for bees and the essential services they provide.
He noted, “Eventually, the bees have played a role in the food that ends up on your plate.”