Special Diet Jump Starts Bees

WASHINGTON - Mar 13/03 - SNS -- A special diet has been developed by researchers with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, which they hope will get bees off to a stronger start when it comes time to pollinate California's almond crop.

Each year, California almond growers rely on tens of thousands of out-of-state bee colonies that are trucked into the state to pollinate almonds. But during winter in many parts of the United States, honey bees are in a near-hibernating state, because of the cold temperatures and the lack of pollen and nectar, their main sources of food.

To stimulate colonies and prepare them for almond pollination, beekeepers now use patties made of corn syrup, soy flour and brewer's yeast. But placement of the patties is labor intensive and costly, and bees consuming them eventually stop producing worker jelly, a substance vital for feeding the developing bees, called brood.

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