The American Soybean Association (ASA) showed support for increased attention to honey bee research activities in a letter to Congress last week.

ASA and more than 40 other agricultural groups in the letter commended President Barack Obama’s FY 2016 budget, which includes an increase to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) research budget for pollinator health among other honey bee analytics and projects.

“For over a decade, beekeepers have been suffering from higher than typical overwintering losses. These losses and the unpredictability of their severity have threatened the sustainability of this important segment of agriculture,” the groups state in the letter. “That is why all sectors of agriculture, including row crop, specialty crop, beekeepers, and related agricultural industries have come together to express support for the allocation of these funds and exhibit our shared interest in pursuing this research so that we may all base our decisions on sound science.”

The groups said they support the President’s holistic approach to better understanding the factors that are making it so difficult for beekeepers. They also requested that the agriculture community be informed on all of the opportunities and hurdles that will lead to better honey bee colony health.

ASA asked Congress for assistance in ensuring funding to fully pursue pollinator health initiatives.

“The issues surrounding pollinator health are important to the agriculture community and we ask your assistance in funding USDA-ARS to fully pursue its Pollinator Health Initiative so that we may continue to be armed with sound scientific evidence to guide solutions.,” the groups state in the letter.

Click here to read the entire letter.