We’ve always known bees were smart. Now, science suggests they may be geniuses. 🐝 In the cover story of our new May issue—out now—we reveal the remarkable minds of the world’s most important pollinators.

Oregon has eliminated pesticide-linked bee fatalities. An Oregon State University assessment revealed no confirmed cases of pesticide-driven bee mortality across the entire state since 2021, representing a dramatic recovery following a large-scale bee die-off in 2013 that prompted comprehensive reforms. That event prompted Oregon legislators to form a statewide pollinator task force and initiate sustained measures aimed at safeguarding bees. Officials trained over 12,000 landscapers, agricultural workers, and pesticide users in safer application methods near pollinators. Instructional resources reached schools and residents, encouraging the development of gardens and outdoor spaces that favor bees. At the same time, scientists established the Oregon Bee Atlas, currently the most extensive statewide catalog of bee species in the nation, recording every one of the 567 known species present in Oregon. Beyond mere identification, the atlas suggests optimal native plants for each county and supplies communities with concrete advice for establishing habitats that benefit regional pollinators. Oregon State University reports that the blend of public education, scientific inventory work, and refined pesticide practices has produced five straight years without any known pesticide-related bee deaths. Pollinators remain essential to farming, facilitating the fertilization of numerous fruits, vegetables, nuts, and ornamental plants that form part of daily diets. Experts note that Oregon’s progress demonstrates effective bee protection need not involve complete pesticide prohibitions. Supplying clearer guidance on proper timing, locations, and techniques for application can substantially lessen risks to pollinators while permitting continued agricultural and landscaping activities. ["Inaugural Oregon report details bee health progress." Oregon State University]

There’s a whole community buzzing at the Obama Presidential Center. 🐝 In honor of National Honey Bee Day, meet Janelle, program manager for Westside Bee Boyz and one of the resident beekeepers caring for two colonies of Italian honeybees on campus. Inside every colony, everyone has a role — from worker and nursery bees helping care for the hive to the queen, who can lay thousands of eggs each day. And as Janelle reminds us, honey bees are a matriarchal society — something that has taught her firsthand about the value of female-led spaces. The story extends beyond the hive, too. Native bees help pollinate plants behind roughly one in three bites of food we eat, which is one reason the native plants growing across campus matter so much. Here’s to the bees, the people who care for them, and the ecosystems they help sustain. Happy National Honey Bee Day. 🐝🌼 #NationalHoneyBeeDay# #ObamaPresidentialCenter# #Pollinators# #Beekeeping#

New York has become the pioneering U.S. state in curbing the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, commonly known as neonics. Governor Kathy Hochul enacted the Birds and Bees Protection Act, the nation's first legislation specifically targeting neonic-treated crop seeds—primarily for corn, soybeans, and wheat. These systemic insecticides coat seeds so that as the plant develops, the chemical permeates its tissues, including pollen and nectar, posing risks to pollinators and beyond. Scientific studies have associated neonic exposure with serious harm to bees, including disrupted navigation, lower reproductive success, and higher death rates. The pesticides have also been implicated in population drops among insect-dependent bird species, such as the Eastern Meadowlark and Tree Swallow, which rely on plentiful insects to feed their young during breeding seasons. The New York law carves out exemptions for genuine environmental emergencies and allows farmers to seek waivers by documenting necessity, completing integrated pest management (IPM) training, and meeting other requirements. Originally set for earlier rollout, the ban on neonic-treated seeds was delayed until January 1, 2029, to give researchers and growers time to identify viable alternatives and ease the agricultural transition. (Certain restrictions on outdoor ornamental and turf uses began phasing in earlier, with key limits effective by late 2024 and 2026.) Vermont quickly followed suit. As of July 1, 2025, outdoor applications of neonics on crops and ornamental plants are prohibited in the state. A broader prohibition on most neonic-treated seeds (for soybeans and cereal grains) is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2029, aligning closely with New York's timeline. Exemptions and best management practices are also part of Vermont's framework. Elsewhere, places like Quebec have dramatically reduced neonic usage without major widespread impacts on crop yields, demonstrating that large-scale shifts are feasible—though they come with practical hurdles and the need for support. New York established the landmark precedent; Vermont strengthened the momentum. Together, these steps highlight an emerging trend among states: prioritizing the safeguarding of pollinators, birds, and broader ecosystems while working to maintain productive agriculture.

A simple strip of wildflowers can dramatically reduce the need for chemical pesticides. So why aren’t they standard on every farm? Farmers are increasingly planting colorful wildflower strips within and around their fields because these habitats attract beneficial insects that naturally control crop pests. Ladybugs are the most familiar example. Both adult ladybugs and their larvae are voracious predators of aphids, small sap-sucking insects that damage crops. A single ladybug can eat dozens of aphids a day, while its larvae can consume hundreds before reaching adulthood. Yet ladybugs are just the beginning. Wildflower strips also draw in hoverflies, lacewings, parasitic wasps, and predatory beetles, all highly effective natural enemies of common pests such as aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and caterpillars. This approach is known as conservation biological control. Rather than releasing predators into fields, farmers create permanent habitats that support and boost populations of beneficial insects already present in the landscape. The flowers supply essential nectar and pollen that many of these insects need as adults. Research shows that access to such resources significantly increases their lifespan, reproductive success, and pest-hunting efficiency. Some parasitic wasps offer an especially impressive form of control: they lay eggs inside aphids or caterpillars, and their developing larvae consume the pest from the inside out. Multiple studies confirm that fields with wildflower strips support far higher numbers of beneficial insects and achieve stronger natural pest suppression compared to conventional fields. Beyond pest control, these strips provide additional benefits: they support pollinators, enhance biodiversity, reduce soil erosion, and create valuable wildlife habitat within agricultural areas. Scientists are now fine-tuning which flower species work best for different crops and climates, aiming to design the most effective and practical wildflower strips possible.

Last week, we completed the first harvest of Ohalo's Fruition One almond trees with our partner Sierra Gold Nurseries. As expected, our extraordinary advance delivers a Nonpareil almond tree (the #1# almond variety grown) that is self-fertile. For the first time ever, growers do not need to plant pollenizer trees, or use bees to cross-pollinate trees. The FruitionOne simply pollinates itself and produces beautiful Nonpareil almonds with boosted yields. This means an almond grower can plant a single tree variety in their orchard, eliminating the second harvest, ending or reducing the use of bees for pollination, while realizing higher revenue per-acre as lower-value trees are removed. We estimate FruitionOne should deliver almond growers 40%+ net profit improvement, while dramatically reducing water use per almond produced and reducing or ending the use of bees in almond production. Below is Sierra Gold's CEO, Reid Robinson, sharing a video of the result. Contact Sierra Gold to place your order today. As the poker saying goes - looks like we got the nuts!