06/18/2026
This is beyond sad that our government is stopping funding for something so important without the Bees we have no crops we have no food and it’s unbelievable to me that the government doesn’t take this as a big priority it actually really pi**es me off!
USDA ARS Honey Bee Lab Closing
By: Barb Bloetscher
With 60 percent of commercial honey bee colonies dying in the last 3 years, and the likely threat of the Tropilaelaps mites and other damaging pests attacking our colonies in the US, it is alarming and dangerous to know that our Government is trying to close the USDA Research Labs in Beltsville MD. THIS INCLUDES the Honey Bee Diagnostic Lab and ALL the research that has continued to serve US since the 1920’s!!!
The USDA Honey bee Diagnostic Laboratory has ID’d CCD, Disappearing Disease (before CCD) many of the viruses and pathogens that attack honey bees, and done extensive research to improve honey bee health and beekeeping management. The Diagnostic Lab has conducted Disease Diagnostics and Pest ID as well as antibiotic resistance at no cost to the public and provided additional diagnostics as needed for unusual submissions and questions.
It’s not JUST the Bee Lab though, the facility includes research on Food, Agricultural crops, Farm animals, Fruit, Vegetables, Hay and silage, Soil nutrition and Ornamental plants. They provided insight on the emerald ash borer, many other invasive pests, plus Human Nutrition.
Acres of chestnut trees one year away from flowering have a resistance to a soil pathogen. If the Labs are closed, the buildings will be razed and the fields leveled.
You can’t infect any soil with this pathogen and wait another 30 years for the chestnut trees to develop resistance again, yet the plan is to destroy these trees.
Although the admin is providing another location for the employees, relocation is not always possible for them, plus funding and equipment to continue their research may or may not be possible.
The Admin has already ordered dumpsters to empty the labs.
The employees have until Sept 1, to move out.
The buildings will be emptied by Sept 30.
Keep in mind that the Beltsville Labs serve the entire NE USA. Other USDA Labs do good work but they have different soils, environments, Weather, and plants than we do here. Diseases and symptoms that occur in NE USA often do not occur in the arid SW or locations of other labs.
Worse of all is the loss of the Brain Trust, the Collaboration that occurs with these groups of employees. Together they found and tried all kinds of answers to difficult questions and helped us and our crops, animals and wildlife improve.
GREED and Ignorance is pushing this movement to close the labs and sell the property for "development"
PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE and US REPS and wear out their phones with messages to maintain these labs!!
PLEASE Speak up if You care at all about the research that continues to serve "US", the U.S. Citizens.
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According to the National Honey Board there might be 135,000 Beekeepers in the US. If you/we/us really care about the USDA/ARS instructions from Washington and loss of support for us beekeepers for honey bee health, we could possibly get some positive and attention if all 135,000 of us contacted our employees in Congress. Lets do it - Jerry Hayes, Editor
Please read this article for more information: https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-press-trump-administration-illegal-effort-close
