The State of Iowa is taking steps to protect its bee population. Colony Collapse Disorder where entire colonies of bees just disappear has been reported around the country and around the world.

“That’s unfortunate, because bees are vital to our state’s agricultural productivity. They help pollinate our crops and as a result the estimated economic impact of honey bee pollination in Iowa is $92 million annually” says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

The State of Iowa has recently updated its “Bee Rule” which is designed to protect the 30,000 bee colonies across the state.

Northey says’ “The updated rule limits the application of insecticides labeled as dangerous to bees in areas near registered apiaries around the active foraging hours of honeybees. The applications must occur prior to 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. These times are designed to prevent application directly to foraging bees and also allows chemicals to settle and dry onto plant surfaces outside the primary hours of active bee foraging.

As a result, it is vital that all the apiaries in the state register with the Sensitive Crops Directory so that pesticide applicators have the most up-to-date information possible. In effort to keep the directory as accurate as possible, the information will be purged every year on December 31st, so it is vital that those on the directory re-enter their information every year to remain active”.

The previous “Bee Rule” had been in place since 1979.