Iowa's bees have been in the news lately, but often the reports are alarming. Colony Collapse Disorder, where whole hives of bees just disappear has been reported across the county and around the world.

That's unfortunate, because bees are vital to Iowa's agricultural productivity. They help pollinate our crops and as a result the estimated economic impact of honey bee pollination in Iowa is $92 million annually. Keeping our honey bees healthy is vital to the state's economy and the health of our ecosystems, says Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship recently published an updated "Bee Rule" that is designed to better protect the health of the 30,000 colonies of bees that are located across the state.

New limitations on application of insecticides

The updated rule limits the application of insecticides labeled as dangerous to bees in areas near registered apiaries around the active foraging hours of honeybees. The applications must occur prior to 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. These times are designed to prevent application directly to foraging bees and also allows chemicals to settle and dry onto plant surfaces outside the primary hours of active bee foraging.

As a result, it is vital that all the apiaries in the state register with the Sensitive Crops Directory so that pesticide applicators have the most up-to-date information possible. In effort to keep the directory as accurate as possible, the information will be purged every year on December 31, so it is vital that those on the directory re-enter their information every year to remain active.

The new "Bee Rule" came from meetings held by Iowa Department of Agriculture officials, Iowa Honey Producers Association board members, pesticide applicators, Iowa State University experts and individual beekeepers.

Previous Iowa "bee rule" was outdated

The previous "Bee Rule" had been in place since 1979, but it has become outdated. Recently the Administrative Rules Review formally invalidated the old rule on the grounds the state ag department lacked that statutory authority to implement it. This action made enforcement of the old rule impossible.

The state apiarist, Andy Joseph, has been central to the development of the new rule and is a resource for anyone interested in learning more about the bee industry in the state or who have questions about the new bee rule. If you have questions you can contact him at [email protected].

It's also important to highlight that pesticide drift is not allowed by any applicator and this rule is designed to give an additional layer of protection to the vitally important bees of the state. If you have of any reports of pesticide drift, please contact the Department's Pesticide Bureau at 515-281-8591 with information about non-compliance with the rule.

It's vital that we keep Iowa a leader in all types of agriculture and this new rule is designed to help make sure that happens.

Here's wording of new Iowa "bee rule"

As of January 22, 2009, the old Iowa Bee Rule was replaced with a new rule designed to give better protection to Iowa's honey bees. In short it prohibits commercial applicators from applying pesticides toxic to bees on blooming crops within one mile of beehives during the day when bees are most active. It also requires beekeepers to register their hive locations at the IDALS Web registry: www.iowaagriculture.gov/Horticulture_and_FarmersMarkets/sensitiveCropDirectory.asp  
The exact wording of the rule is: Chapter 21-45.31(206) Application of pesticides toxic to bees. 45.31(1) Owners of apiaries, in order to protect their bees from pesticide applications, shall register the location of their apiaries with the state apiarist. Registration shall be on forms provided by the department. The registration expires Dec. 31 each year and may be renewed the following year.

Also, 45.31(2) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., a commercial applicator shall not apply to blooming crops pesticides labeled as toxic to bees when the commercial applicator is located within one mile of a registered apiary. A commercial applicator shall be responsible for maintaining the one-mile distance from apiaries that are registered and listed on the sensitive crop registry on the first day of each month.

And, under 45.26 Record-keeping--Adopt the following new paragraph 45.26(3): Record the time pesticide application begins and ends.