By Scout Nelson
Steve Ellis began his journey with honeybees in 1978 when a summer job on a bee farm brought him to Minnesota. He fell in love with the work and built a lifelong career around it.
Nearly five decades later, Ellis is a recognized voice in bee advocacy. Despite his years of success, he now faces increasing concerns about honeybee survival. Last summer, he lost 40 percent of his hives—an alarming number.
“Last year was the worst year in recorded history for bee mortality in the United States, and it has been getting progressively worse,” he said.
Scientists point to multiple factors behind bee deaths, including pests, diseases, habitat loss, and pesticides. Ellis firmly believes that neonicotinoids, a type of systemic insecticide, are a leading cause. Even as he plans retirement, Ellis remains active in fighting for bee health and against harmful pesticide use.
“I have a lot invested mentally into this subject,” Ellis said. “I've been working at it for 30 years. It's hard to leave that behind when you see it's still getting worse.”
In 1994, Ellis took over Old Mill Honey and soon noticed a spike in colony losses. He discovered that insecticides sprayed on nearby trees were harming his bees. This led to a legal battle that reached the Minnesota Supreme Court.
“They changed their practices because of it, but it taught me that you can't just ask for the change and that the system wasn't going to just protect us,” he said. “We had to step up and protect ourselves.”
Over the years, Ellis joined national efforts, serving as president of the Pollinator Stewardship Council and on other advisory boards.
“Through that engagement, we're understanding that we're very much in the David and Goliath situation here,” he said.
Despite challenges, Ellis stays committed to advocacy, knowing that bee health connects directly to food production and farming families.
Photo Credit:pexels-pixabay
Categories: Minnesota, General