Hive mentality

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Bees are man's best friend?

"A third to a half of the food products are pollinated because of honey bees," explained Kenny Norman of Hurley, president of the Missouri Beekeepers Association. "We've got to have bees."

Keith Delaplane, a University of Georgia entomology professor who's been a "hobby beekeeper" for 32 years, added: "I think the general public does not recognize nor appreciate the fundamental value of honey bee pollination -- it is largely responsible for pollinating the crops" that make American diets distinct from the diets in Third World countries.

"Inevitably, when a standard of living rises in a country, the diet improves, too," he said. "And that improved diet is disproportionally heavy in bee-pollinated crops."

For instance, our "delicacies -- meat, dairy, condiments" all are dependent on pollination, he said.

Delaplane was among featured speakers as more than 80 Missouri beekeepers gathered in Jefferson City recently to discuss their craft and some of the problems they face.

"You gain a lot of knowledge," said Bob Verslues of Jefferson City, who's been raising and handling bees for 40 years. "You have professors, doctors who are well-versed in this business enterprise.

"And, you know, they've got all the new studies out on the beetles and the mites and stuff, and there's always new chemicals coming out, so there's always something to learn."

Delores Sauls of Eldon has been raising bees for more than a decade.

"You're always learning, and there's always something to learn and areas to grow," she said. "And it's affordable to start up."

But there are concerns -- and potential problems -- facing anyone who tackles beekeeping as a business or a hobby.

One -- obvious to people who don't keep bees -- is the stinger.

"You get stung a lot," Verslues acknowledged. "You just have to love this, to fool with bees."

Sauls added: "You get used to it, and you get to know the bees. You like gentle bees to work with."

Sauls and Norman said beekeeping also needs to attract more, younger participants.

"It used to be a Boy Scout badge, but there are very few young kids" involved now, Sauls said Saturday. "[At 45] I'm probably one of the youngest ones here -- and a lot of the mentors here, who have been so very awesome to teach us, are getting older, getting out and passing away."

Norman said the Missouri association is trying to "do a lot of training in schools [and] we work with 4-H and FFA."