MONTANA INSECT PESTS, 1949 AND 1950 31 



BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE MONTANA STATE APIARIST 



1949 AND 1950 



The beekeeping industry is changing rapidly in nearly every 

 section of the United States, especially in the legume seed pro- 

 ducing areas. 



With new advances in the bee business, commercial beekeep- 

 ers are constantly demanding more information on pollination, 

 the effects of insecticides on bees, and the effects of herbicides 

 on bee pastures. 



The bee business produces nearly one million dollars' worth 

 of honey and beeswax annually, and according to the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, bees are worth 10 to 20 times 

 this amount for pollination of fruits, vegetables, and legume seed 

 crops. 



Honeybees have been used for pollination of fruits and veg- 

 etables for many years, but little attention has been given bees 

 as pollinators of legumes until very recent years. Experiments 

 in Utah and California show that alfalfa pollinated by honeybees 

 increased the yield of seed as much as six times. 



Several beekeepers in Montana have placed bees on alfalfa 

 seed plots this year, and will receive a portion of the seed as pay- 

 ment for pollination services. These beekeepers have reported that 

 the seed production has been increased, but that their bees in 

 these fields have been able to store only enough honey to carry 

 them through the winter. 



This office has assisted beekeepers in placing the bees properly 

 in the field to do the most efficient job of pollination, and has 

 recommended the best insecticides to be used for controlling 

 destructive insects in the fields without harming the bees. 



Many Montana beekeepers are requesting that research be con- 

 ducted to aid them in their problems connected with pollination 

 services. Funds are not available at the present time for this 

 type of work. 



The year 1949 was the poorest honey year in Montana since 

 records have been maintained. Montana normally produces 100 

 pounds of honey per colony annually. In 1949 the per colony yield 

 v/as only 55 pounds. The reports for the 1950 honey crop are not 

 all in yet, but it looks as if the crop will average about 70 pounds 

 per colony. 



The 62,000 colonies of bees in Montana are operated by about 

 150 commercial beekeepers who depend almost entirely on the 

 sale of honey for their livelihood. 



