NCC Statement Regarding USDA/EPA Honey Bee Report

The National Cotton Council (NCC) is aware that the scientific community is in agreement that there are multiple factors involved with bee health decline and more study is necessary to determine which of these factors are the most important.

The list of factors (in no particular order) include: parasites, pathogens, and diseases; bee genetics, including lack of genetic diversity; diet and nutrition; bee management issues, including transportation stress from migratory beekeeping, overcrowding, feeding practices, and chemicals used by beekeepers to control mites; habitat loss and other environmental stressors, including loss of forage area; pesticides including acute and cumulative exposure; and potential cumulative and interactive effects of each of these factors.

Although cotton is a self-pollinating crop that does not require bees for pollination, some beekeepers do request permission to place their hives on cotton producer's property next to row crops, including cotton.

The NCC has been and continues to be engaged in issues surrounding bee health, and it continues to seek improved crop production techniques that protect crop yield and enhance environmental outcome.