Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- March 11, 2008
Penn State honey bee research gets a boost (:52)
[Click here to listen, or right-click to download and save MP3 audio file]
Suggested Intro:
AS SCIENTISTS CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH FOR WHAT'S CAUSING MASSIVE HONEY BEE DIE-OFFS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A MAJOR ICE CREAM MAKER HAS STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT PENN STATE RESEARCH ON COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER. CHUCK GILL REPORTS:
Story:
(:14) MANY FLAVORS OF HAAGEN-DAZS ICE CREAM RELY ON HONEY BEE POLLINATION TO PROVIDE INGREDIENTS SUCH AS STRAWBERRIES AND ALMONDS. THAT'S WHY THE COMPANY DONATED $150-THOUSAND TOWARDS HONEY BEE RESEARCH IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES.
(:10) THE FUNDING WILL PAY FOR SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND STUDENT BEE PROJECTS. PENN STATE ENTOMOLOGIST DIANA COX-FOSTER SAYS RESEARCH ON THE HONEY BEE CRISIS IS ALREADY BEARING FRUIT:
Cox-Foster Actuality:
(:18) "WE HAVE NEW EVIDENCE THAT THERE ARE INDEED PATHOGENS INVOLVED IN THE BEE LOSSES. ALSO, ANOTHER GROUP HERE AT PENN STATE HAS BEEN ACCUMULATING INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS ON THE BEES, AND WE'RE HOPING TO ASK IF THE TWO OF THEM CAN COME TOGETHER TO CAUSE THIS PHENOMENON."(:10) COX-FOSTER SAYS HOMEOWNERS CAN HELP HONEY BEES BY GROWING POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY GARDENS, AND BY MINIMIZING THE USE OF PESTICIDES THAT MAY BE HARMFUL TO BEES. FROM PENN STATE, I'M CHUCK GILL.
# # #
Learn more:
[AIRWAVES] [STORY INDEX] [NEWS RELEASES] [RELATED LINKS] [HOME]