Promote Bountiful Bee Sanctuaries

Set-Aside Land Can Be Used for Wildflowers and to Support Bees

As commercial bee keepers we would like to see the federal government set aside farm ground where wild flowers and other blooming plants friendly to our honey bees could be planted along with the crested wheat grass. Our government pays large amounts of money to farmers to set aside millions of acres that could become good honey sources, as well as spray-free zones.

We are currently trying to get people interested in pushing this idea. We have for some time been contacted by a "green type" landowner who owns close to a thousand acres in the mountains about 80 miles away, wanting us to establish a bee yard on his property. We resisted because it was so far away from our other yards. This week we relented and sent 72 hives there with him as a guide to where he needed them. He is setting this ground back to its previous condition before cattle grazing.

Why was he begging us for several years for the bees? Once we saw what he has done and is doing, all the wildflowers, never have I seen so many. It became clear that he needed the bees to pollinate all of the natural plants that he is re-establishing. Reason: Most of the natural bees seem to be missing nowadays, maybe due to the mites. Please give some thought to re-seeding set-aside land. Thanks.

Elmer James

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