According to the American Beekeeping Federation, honeybees contribute over $14 billion to the value of US crop production. However, large-scale die-offs (30-80%) of commercial bee colonies are occurring, affecting the growth of important crops such as almonds and apples which require bee pollination.
While many studies have been conducted, no well-funded, large-scale study on the complex relationships between bees, chemicals, and agriculture has been done.
The Administration should direct and fund the EPA to commission an impartial, third-party comprehensive study of the effects of pesticides, fungicides, and commercial beekeeping practices on honeybee colonies in the U.S. and abroad in order to determine which (if any) chemicals should be limited or banned.