The May 22 Environmental Issues Forum hosted by the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will feature a presentation on the decline of pollinator populations in Pennsylvania.

The presenters include Dr. Harland Patch, a research scientist at Penn State’s Department of Entomology, and Mr. Charles Vorisek, past president of the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association and member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

Pollinators play a significant role in the production of fruit and vegetables. For example, 90 percent of our nation’s apple crop relies on bee-induced pollination.

Over the last decade, however, there has been a staggering decline in the Western honeybee population, attributed to several causes, including colony collapse disorder. This has alarmed scientists and farmers alike, as it poses a significant risk to the world’s agriculture and food supply.

The Forum will be held in Room 8E-A East Wing of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg starting at Noon.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation Committee.

For more information, visit the Joint Conservation Committee website, Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.

Helpful Links:

Ernst Seeds: Pollinator Habitat, Problems, Solutions

NewsClips:

PA Leads The U.S. In Supporting Farmers To Be Better Water Stewards

Debate Over Urban Farming Surfaces In Alle-Kiski Valley

U.S. Senate Confirms Perdue As Trump’s Agriculture Secretary

[Posted: April 27, 2017]

5/1/2017