Beyond the Sows, Cows and Plows: Part 2

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It would be safe to assume that everybody is familiar with this little guy. He might be especially pesky when you are eating some sweet summertime snack or when you are working in your flower garden. After all, he is just a honey bee trying acquire pollen to take back to the hive so that it can be made into honey and wax. He is more than that. He is a part of the agricultural industry.

Beekeeping is one part of the agricultural industry that certainly doesn't get the most thought. It's also not the most attractive career to be in, because who wants to risk getting stung all the time? Even if it sounds crazy, there are people out there that suit up and tend to the hives every single day.

Just lend a thought to all the different foods that have honey as an ingredient. Chances are that you thought of at least five food products, but you're sure there are plenty more that you don't know about.

Here are a few facts about the bee and honey industry from http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/livestock/bees-profile/ that might blow your mind:

• There are 115,000 to 125,000 beekeepers in the United States.
• In 2013, about 149 million pounds of raw honey was produced in the United States.
• The value of honeybee pollination to crops was about 19 billion dollars.
• 60% of honey production is due to 1,600 commercial beekeepers.

Bees play a bigger role than it seems. Not only do they produce delicious honey, but they serve as a pollination tool for many farmers across the country. Their natural work is the reason that so many crops have been successful over the years.

Hopefully this insight has created some 'buzz' in your mind to learn more. The link up above has more general information, but a Google search is definitely always helpful.

For now, good day.