South Dakota Department of Agriculture Participates in National Honey Bee Survey

SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NEW RELEASE                          

                                                                                                   For Immediate Release: Nov.30,2012

                                                                                         Media Contact: Brad Berven, 605-773-4432 

Bob Reiners, 605-773-3796

South Dakota Department of Agriculture Participates In

National Honey Bee Survey

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) has participated since 2011 in a national honey bee survey of pests and diseases. 

The objective of the survey is to attempt to identify or document any potentially invasive bee diseases, parasites or pests of honey bees, to investigate potential causes of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and determine overall bee health of U.S. bee colonies.

Because honey bees play a vital role in pollination activities, the survey has been funded annually by the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  

South Dakota typically ranks in the top-five honey producing states. South Dakota is the home of  163 beekeepers who maintain about 250,000 hives at approximately 6,800 locations across the state.    

SDDA sampled 25 apiaries in 2011 and 24 apiaries in 2012 as a cooperator in this endeavor. The 2012 survey results for South Dakota are not expected for a few more months.

In addition to the honey bee health survey, SDDA also collected 10 bee pollen samples each year to test for possible environmental toxins and possible interactions with bee health. 

Nationwide testing in 2011 revealed that 35 pesticides were in the bee pollen samples out of the 174 pesticides that were included in the screening process.  

In 2011, 12 pesticides were detected in seven different beekeeper’s pollen samples in South Dakota. Chlorpyrifos and cyhalothrin were the two most frequently detected agricultural chemicals. The other most frequently detected chemicals were varroa mite control compounds administered by beekeepers.

It is important to remember that detection of contaminants in pollen does not mean the honey is contaminated.

Agriculture is South Dakota’s No. 1 industry, generating nearly $21 billion in annual economic activity and employing more than 80,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov/ or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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South Dakota Department of Agriculture Awards Grants

SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 29, 2012
Media Contact: Terri LaBrie, 605-773-5436

South Dakota Department of Agriculture Awards Grants

PIERRE, S.D.-The South Dakota Department of Agriculture announces that 26 grants have been awarded through the Building Our South Dakota Rural Communities grant program.


These grants are available annually to 4-H Clubs, FFA Chapters, and Family Career and Community Leaders of America Chapters.


“We had a lot of applications this year, and a lot of great projects were funded,” said Walt Bones, South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture. “Our rural youth are the future of agriculture in South Dakota, and this is just one way the department can support their efforts in making this state a better place to live, work and grow.”


The purpose of the grant program is to assist agricultural youth in beautifying and improving their communities by working together to accomplish educational and project goals.


The following clubs/chapters were funded:


Tabor Pioneers 4-H Club – Bon Homme County
Sweet Clovers 4-H Club – Bon Homme County
Let’Er Buck 4-H Club – Butte County
Andes Central FCCLA – Charles Mix County
Willow Lake FFA – Clark County
Clay County Flyers 4-H Club – Clay County
Florence FFA – Codington County
Mitchell FCCLA – Davison County
Coteau Hills 4-H Club – Day County
Webster Area FFA – Day County
DC Young Riders 4-H Club – Deuel County
Milbank FFA – Grant County
River 4-H Club – Hughes/Stanley County
Kaylor 4-H Club – Hutchinson County
Dell Rapids FFA – Minnehaha County
West Central FFA – Minnehaha County
Garretson FFA – Minnehaha County
Flandreau FFA – Moody County
Wall FFA – Pennington County
Perkins County 4-H Shooting Sports – Perkins County
Hillside Hustlers 4-H Club – Roberts County
Wilmot FFA – Roberts County
Spink County 4-H Jr. Leaders – Spink County
Marion FFA – Turner County
Marion FCCLA – Turner County


Other financial programs are available to South Dakota farmers and ranchers for beginning farmers and ranchers, livestock purchase, guarantees, dairy and feedlot expansions, value added businesses and manure management systems.


Visit http://sdda.sd.gov or call 605.773.5436 for more information.


Agriculture is South Dakota’s No. 1 industry, generating nearly $21 billion in annual economic activity and employing more than 80,000 South Dakotans.  The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow.  Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov/ or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) Facilitates Roundtable Priority Meetings

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture is facilitating committee meetings to identify the work plan for the priority areas identified in the 2011 and 2012 Key Leaders Roundtable.

The work plans will provide a framework for all agriculture stakeholders to move forward the Department priorities.  The committee groups include:

-Education and Youth
-Livestock Development
-Water, Natural Resources and Energy
-Infrastructure and Zoning
-Value-Added Processing

These committee groups consist of volunteers from agriculture commodity groups along with SDDA staff facilitating. 

The purpose of each committee is to identify overall objectives and strategies to address the priority areas. The objectives will have short and long-term timelines. All objectives will be created to be Specific, Measurable, Accountable, Realistic and Timely (SMART).

Stay tuned for members from each committee!