Texas Honey Bees Need Your Help!

 

I'm sure you have all heard about the plans to eradicate the Tallow trees from Texas. Did you know you can help express your concerns about this, and maybe put a stop to this action?

Please review the documents and comment on this 

What’s Happening: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) plans to release 2 non-native pests (a moth and a beetle from China) to eventually eradicate the Tallow tree from Texas, and all the USA. Tallow has been in the USA since the 1700s and is an important source of nectar and pollen for up to a million beehives. This will negatively impact all scales of beekeepers state, and nationwide.

Why it Matters: Releasing a beetle from China & a moth (with the potential to jump hosts) to control the most bee friendly tree in the USA is the last thing our honeybees need right now. Tallow provides irreplaceable forage for spring build up in Texas, and 90+% of the honey produced in Texas. The loss of tallow would move Texas from one of the top honey production states to one of the worst. The loss of the tallow crop could permanently impact all scales of beekeepers in Texas and nationwide as queen, nuc and package producers suffer the loss of critical forage. Operations will go out of business, and nationwide supply will be disrupted. The scale and threat of this impact cannot be overstated.  

What You Can Do: This is the last chance we have to stand up against this reckless attempt. Join with thousands of fellow beekeepers, almost every southern State Beekeeping Association, the Texas Beekeepers Association and both major National Beekeepers Associations to comment against the loss of one of the most critical sources of clean forage for bees. Comment as a concerned beekeeper, business owner, beekeeping club, or someone who opposes the intentional release of more insect pests from China.

Click Here to Comment: 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS-2020-0035-0001

 

Comment Suggestions:

-Include how this will have a negative financial impact on you and your businesses or hobby

-Include that the current APHIS assessment does not properly take into account the severe damage to bees and beekeeping & how critical tallow is to that

-Include any concerns you have around releasing a non-native pest

-Include where you are from, and how this will dramatically change beekeeping, bee and queen supply, and honey production

-Include how this will take Texas from one of the top honey producing states, to one of the worst

Thanks you for your help!
Dodie Stillman
AABA, President
TBA, Director and Club Liaison

​

​