Yesterday, May 29, was the Day of the Honey Bee in British Columbia, marking more than a century and a half since domesticated bees were first brought to this province.
Farmers contribute an enormous amount to B.C., from the sizeable place they hold in the economy, to their place in ensuring our food security, to their stewardship of the land for future generations.
And they have plenty to fret about: weather, markets, changing tastes.
One of the worries they've had in recent years is the decline in the number of honeybees active in North America and parts of Europe, a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder.
The decline has tapered off in recent years, but is still a concern for beekeepers and those who depend on them.
With no bees, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of crops would be destroyed or reduced in value, as yields drop to almost nothing for crops that require pollination by honeybees.
Is there anything we can do to support bees, and the beekeepers who raise them? Aside from eating more delicious honey, the simplest thing may be to avoid the use of certain pesticides that have been implicated in the decline of bee colonies.
A number of scientific studies have indicated the decline is being caused by the overuse of a class of pesticides, while others suggest the mites - and the chemicals used to control them - are part of the problem.
This winter was a good one for bees, with fewer hives lost.
Simply calling on government to take the health of bees seriously is likely to have the best outcome for bees in the long run.
