EXTENSION COLLABORATES WITH BEEKEEPERS TO INCREASE AWARENESS
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Southeast Georgia beekeepers suffered significant losses in 2007 due to multiple adverse conditions including an early freeze, extreme drought, and large forest fires. This reduced honey production and bee populations. The Lanier/Clinch County Extension agent and local beekeepers took action by organizing the Southeast Georgia Beekeepers Association to document losses and advocate for disaster assistance. They met with various government agencies and increased awareness of the issues through media interviews. As a result, new disaster programs for beekeepers were included in the 2008 Farm Bill and additional funding was provided for bee research.
![[object Object],Andrews * , E.L. , University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Lanier County, Lakeland, GA 31635 Abstract Southeast Georgia beekeepers were hit hard in 2007 by multiple adverse conditions which affected bee populations and honey production. An early Easter freeze killed pollen sources for honey bees. Extreme drought conditions during the same time attributed to the largest forest fires in Southeast Georgia/North Florida in years. The smoke and ashes from these fires stopped bee activity. Hive decline and lost honey production plagued beekeepers. Faced with losses caused by these multiple conditions, beekeepers discovered there were no disaster payments available for lost production of honey or declining hives. Lanier/Clinch County Extension Agent and Clinch County beekeepers took action to address these problems. They presented an organized effort to government agencies with the total amount of honey and hive losses they had suffered. They met with the USDA Farm Service Agency, state and U. S. representatives, and senators about disaster relief for loss of hives and production. They met with UGA Extension specialist to discuss increased bee research and education programming. Consequently, they reorganized the declining Southeastern Georgia Beekeepers Association to fifty-plus members representing 30,000 plus beehives in six counties. The Lanier/Clinch County Extension Agent and beekeepers were interviewed on television and other news outlets to explain the problems affecting beekeepers. New disaster assistance programs for beekeepers are included in the 2008 Farm Bill. UGA Extension is the lead organization on a USDA grant of $4.1 million for “Sustainable Solutions to Problems Affecting Health of Managed Bees”. Lanier CEA and two Clinch County beekeepers are cooperators on this grant. Results The reorganized Southeastern Georgia Beekeepers Association made great strides in addressing the issue of bee decline and hive loss including: Situation SE Georgia beekeepers were hard hit in 2007 by multiple adverse conditions which reduced honey production and bee populations. An early freeze killed pollen sources for bees. Extreme drought conditions during the same time attributed to the largest forest fires in SE Georgia / North Florida in years. The smoke and ashes from these fires stopped bee activity. Faced with losses caused by these multiple conditions, beekeepers discovered there were no disaster payments available for lost production of honey or declining hives. Extension’s Response Lanier/Clinch County Extension Agent in collaboration with Clinch County Beekeepers took action to address these problems. The SE Georgia Beekeepers Association reorganized to present a concerted effort to government agencies with the total amount of honey and hive losses they had suffered. They met with the USDA Farm Service Agency, state and U.S. representatives and senators about disaster relief for loss of hives and production. They met with the UGA Extension Specialist to discuss increased bee research and educational programs. Beekeeper Meeting Meeting with State Representative ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Honey Bee Hives South Georgia Wildfires Bee and Honey Losses Bee Hive Decline Honey Bee Supers 519 817 Production of Drums of Honey 9135 21837 Production of Comb Honey 2944 1688 Hives Lost 2007 2006](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/extensioncollaborateswithbeekeeperstoincreaseawareness-100128082602-phpapp02/85/EXTENSION-COLLABORATES-WITH-BEEKEEPERS-TO-INCREASE-AWARENESS-1-320.jpg)
