Honey bees in the United States continue to die off at “a worrisome rate,” said a government report. Crucial to pollination of a quarter of food consumed crops the bees declined by 23 percent during the 2013-2014 winter. That’s actually lower than the previous year, which was more than 30 percent. The average loss for the last eight years was 29.6. This amount of loss each year makes bee population unsustainable.
The devastating losses are in part due to the growing use of pesticides sold by agrichemical companies particularly for corn. The pesticides make bees weaker and incapable of surviving during winter, particularly when the weather is especially cold. Monsanto claims however that a large part of the die off has to do with bee mites. But a USDA spokesman said that viruses, parasites, nutrition problems and pesticides are all factors.
The European Union has banned the specific pesticides that appear to cause colony collapse. Similar measures in the U.S. would cost Monsanto and other manufacturers millions of dollars. The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to fund more than $450,000 in research projects to reduce the use of pesticides that may harm honey bees.
Humans are utterly dependent on honey bees for survival. While not all crops rely on honey bees for pollination, devastating problems would arise in the food supply if there were not enough bees to look after pollination. As concerns grow over the loss of the bee population, we are reminded that Jesus predicted that in the last days there would be famines. Bee colony collapse could be one serious factor.
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:7
“There will soon be a sudden change in God’s dealings. The world in its perversity is being visited by casualties, –by floods, storms, fires, earthquakes, famines, wars, and bloodshed. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power; yet He will not at all acquit the wicked.” Fundamentals of Education, page 356