releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=37f7d0ad-b159-4f25-9a2f-e6d7427adfa6
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=37f7d0ad-b159-4f25-9a2f-e6d7427adfa6 | Heitkamp Announces Significant Federal Funding to Support Honey Bee Habitats | 2014-10-29 | 2014 | 2014-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | BISMARCK, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced more than $4 million in federal funding to support Midwest farmers and ranchers improve the health of honey bees, which pollinate an estimated $15 billion worth of crops across the country. These funds continue Heitkamps work from her 2014 Farm Bill amendment to strengthen efforts to promote honey bee health and habitat conservation. For decades, the honey bee population has been on the decline. Since 2006, beekeepers have been reporting startlingly high hive losses from 30 to 90 percent, which experts attribute to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). These new funds will be used to apply new knowledge on CCD by supporting farmers and ranchers in North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, South Dakota and Wisconsin in implementing practices that will provide safe and diverse food sources for honey bees to combat CCD. We cannot protect our nations food supply without first taking care of our honey bees, which pollinate more than 130 fruits and vegetables, said Heitkamp. As the nations top commercial pollinator state, North Dakota sends an army of honey bees to the east and west coasts each year to pollinate American staples like apples, almonds, and blueberries. Thats why I wrote an amendment in this years Farm Bill to strengthen conservation efforts that give honey bees the high-quality habitats they need to keep producing crops that keep our bodies and our economy healthy. Todays federal funding will keep those efforts moving so that our farmers and ranchers across the Midwest will have the tools they need to protect our honey bees and our crops for generations to come. The funds are made available by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The effort will renew a popular pilot investment from earlier this year and contributes to the White Houses pollinator conservation initiative announced in June. States including North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, South Dakota and Wisconsin are eligible for funding. Applications are due Friday, November 21, 2014. During National Honey Month this September, Heitkamp wrote an op-ed for Refinery 29 discussing North Dakota as the nations top honey producing state, and encouraging the promotion of honey bee health through continued conservation efforts nationwide. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |