In Enterprise, bee experts are teaching the next generation of beekeepers a process called instrumental insemination to help reverse the trend of collapse.
ENTERPRISE, Ala. - An estimated 1.6 million bee colonies were wiped out across the country last year, according to experts. Parasitic mites are destroying colonies faster than they can recover. In Enterprise, bee experts are teaching the next generation of beekeepers a process called instrumental insemination to help reverse the trend.
The technique allows beekeepers to hand-select the strongest queens and breed bees that are resistant to mites. “The food industry would collapse without them,” said Adler Salem, state bee inspector with Alabama Agriculture & Industries. Thirteen students are learning the skill through a dual enrollment program with Enterprise State Community College. Among them is Chelsea, an 11th grader from Goshen High School. “I first got out there and I was terrified. But I learned to love the bees. And I think that that’s something that I want to do in the near future as well,” Chelsea said. Salem said the process is precise and painstaking, but could be key to keeping bee populations alive. “If we have a colony that’s superior to the rest, it’s very difficult to mimic that,” Salem said, “to try to get a replica of our mother colony, that pure, amazing queen that we want.” Course instructor Richard Woodham said the program exists to ensure beekeeping knowledge is passed down. “It’s worth all of the time that I put into it to see that our young people are coming along. Because if the current generation does not learn what we learned, then it’ll be lost forever. So we’re trying to prepare them for the future and to save our future,” said Woodham with the Alabama Community College System. Bees pollinate crops, including berries, almonds and produce honey. Without them, those foods would not exist. Download the WTVY News4 app to get alerts and stories the moment they are published. Available for FREE in theMercedes-Benz service tech charged for allegedly taking customer’s vehicle to sports barParents following school bus on field trip capture deadly collision on dashcam video
Enterprise Bee Breeding Parasitic Mites Parasitic Mites And Bee Hives What Bees Do For Agriculture Adler Salem Enterprise High School Bee Program Richard Woodham
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Bryce Fowler Walks Off Auburn To Clinch Series For AlabamaAlabama baseball wins its first series against Auburn since 2023 in a 3-2 thriller.
Read more »
Alabama Judge Allows Aden Holloway to Travel for NCAA Tournament Game Despite Felony ArrestAn Alabama judge granted permission for Crimson Tide basketball player Aden Holloway, who was arrested on felony drug charges, to travel to Chicago for the Sweet 16 and potentially Elite Eight games, despite being removed from campus. This decision allows him to attend the games, pending clearance from the university's student conduct office.
Read more »
Does Intuit Enterprise Suite support entities outside the US?Tech Product Reviews, How To, Best Ofs, deals and Advice
Read more »
Who provides cloud-based enterprise financial systems?Tech Product Reviews, How To, Best Ofs, deals and Advice
Read more »
Where Auburn Baseball Landed in Major Rankings After a Brutal Week SevenAuburn defeated South Alabama, 10-0, in the midweek before being swept by Alabama.
Read more »
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Leading Neo-Nazi Child Exploitation EnterpriseKaleb Christopher Merritt, a convicted rapist from Texas, has pleaded guilty to leading an online neo-Nazi criminal enterprise called CVLT that systematically exploited children. The group coerced minors into producing child sexual abuse material and images of self-harm, utilizing neo-Nazism, nihilism, and pedophilia as core principles. The investigation spanned multiple countries, involving several law enforcement agencies. Merritt faces a minimum of 20 years in prison.
Read more »