May 1, 8:13 PM EDT

*Collapsing Bee Colony Disorder Impacts N.D.*

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- North Dakota now is among about a dozen states
where beekeepers report some of their bees are buzzing away from hives
for good.

Judy Carlson, the apiary inspector for the state Agriculture Department,
said North Dakota beekeepers are returning to the state after using
their bees elsewhere to pollinate cucumbers and almond and orange trees.

The phenomenon, known as collapsing colony disorder, affects crops that
depend on bees for pollination.

A survey of 15 out of the 179 beekeepers in the state found about half
had poor or disappearing hives, she said.

"Some are reporting that they are losing 50 to 80 percent of their
hives," Carlson said.

North Dakota, with an estimated 382,500 hives, led the country in honey
production last year.

"This is a really big deal for the honey industry here," state
Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson said. "It's a real mystery
because bees have an enormously strong homing instinct, but in this
case, they are flying away and never coming back and nobody knows where
they went."

Randy Verhoek of Bismarck said he lost half his 13,000 hives this year,
costing him about $400,000.

"We'd go out one day and find full boxes, and a week later they would
just be gone," he said.

Verhoek said he lost money because he did not have his normal hive count
for pollination in California almond orchards. He said he had to send
weakened hives to Texas for rebuilding.

Verhoek and Gackle beekeeper John Miller, with 10,000 hives, say the
phenomenon of collapsing colonies may have many causes, including
drought, disease and insecticides.

Miller said neither scientists nor beekeepers understand what's at the
root of the collapsing colonies. He believes about a third of collapsing
colony disorder is due to poor management by the beekeepers.

"They aren't following the new standards for hive husbandry," Miller
said. "Things have changed."

Carlson hopes government research will find ways to prevent collapsing
colony disorder.

"Our bees go to other states, so it affects everyone at some point," she
said.