Beekeeper Says He’s Glad Oklahoma Agency Will Get Busy To Save Bees

By Josh Wallace Staff Writer jwallace@oklahoman.comRandy Brady, beekeeper and owner of Cripple Creek Farms near Guthrie, said the decline of honeybee colonies is an issue never far from his mind. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, managed bee colonies have been on the decline for decades, decreasing from 5 million in the 1940s to 2.5 million today. In addition to producing honey, bees pollinate nearly $10 billion worth of crops every year and are responsible for the pollination of 15 to 30 percent of food consumed in the U.S., according to the USDA. Working to find solutions to the problem, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry will host a public hearing on its draft pollinator protection plan from 1 to 3 p.m.Read more on NewsOK.com