"A worsening crisis"

This is how Lou Dobbs describes colony collapse disorder, the worldwide mystery wherein billions of bees are simply vanishing, leaving behind neither carcasses nor disease.

In my experience, every time you hear the words "crisis" or "reform," it's time to put your hand on your wallet.

Ron Bailey with Reason Magazine has done some interesting work on the subject. He finds that biotech crops have been fingered as suspects, as have cell phones. He discounts both theories.

I like this comment from that last link (typos in the original are cleaned up for clarity): USDA studies suggest that 250-300 orchard bees can do as much pollinating as a hive of honeybees, which numbers about 30-40,000. The trick is for farmers to encourage these bees to the property.