Latest news with #Texas-bred
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Farmers sound the alarm as critical piece of food supply faces collapse: 'Potentially higher prices at grocery stores'
You might not think about bees when you're buying cucumbers or berries, but they're behind nearly every bite. Now, a wave of colony collapses in Texas is threatening the bees we rely on and the food supply they help sustain. Texas farmers are seeing major declines in their honeybee populations. According to Food & Wine, commercial beekeepers across the state have lost around two-thirds of their colonies in the past year. A survey by Project Apis m., a nonprofit focused on honeybee research, found that beekeepers across the U.S. lost more than 60% of their colonies last year, totaling $635 million in financial damages. "If you take a commercial beekeeper with 500 hives … they're looking at about 60% losses," Texas beekeeper Dennis Taylor told Texas News Channel 6 Now. "That's going to be borderline as to whether they recover." Texas plays a huge role in the U.S. food system. It's the fourth-largest agricultural state, growing over 600 specialty crops, including cucumbers, melons, squash, and berries. Many of these are heavily dependent on pollinators to produce fruit. Bees pollinate roughly one-third of everything we eat. Without bees, farmers would face increased challenges and rising food prices, particularly for fresh produce. "A decline in bee populations could lead to lower yields, increased costs for growers needing to rent managed pollination services, and potentially higher prices at grocery stores," said Dr. Tracy Ellis, an entomologist at FarmSense. Ellis points to multiple overlapping factors, but varroa mites "continue to be the utmost challenge for beekeepers," she told Food & Wine. These parasites feed on bee larvae and spread deadly viruses. Nutritional deficiencies caused by habitat loss, a lack of pollen diversity, and extreme weather events in Texas also disrupt food resources for bees and other pollinators. This isn't just a Texas problem, either. California, the nation's largest agricultural producer, relies on Texas-bred bees to help pollinate almond crops, which are 100% reliant on pollinators. Which of these groups has the biggest role to play in reducing food waste? Grocery stores Restaurants Individuals The government Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "In some cases, I think we're going to lose beekeeping companies," said Geoffrey Williams, an agriculture professor at Auburn University. And because pollinators are "very mobile," as Ellis says, a crisis in one region can quickly ripple outward, threatening food systems across countries and even continents. Although the crisis might feel distant, there are ways to support pollinators right from your backyard or grocery cart. Ellis recommends planting "flowering trees, shrubs, and native plants to provide safe forage and habitat for honey bees and local pollinators." And if you want to go a step further, skip the chemical pesticides, which can severely harm already vulnerable bee populations. You can also shop smarter at the grocery store by choosing seasonal produce and reducing food waste. Supporting local, sustainable farmers also promotes long-term bee health, and you can further help by advocating for stronger environmental policies and donating to organizations like Project Apis m. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
John Cena admits to secret hair transplant after cruel act by fans
John Cena candidly revealed that he got a hair transplant due to relentless bullying from fans. The wrestler-turned-actor, 47, confessed that he had gotten the cosmetic procedure due to by social media comments who pointed out his 'bald spot.' He explained while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show this week, 'You guys ripped me to shreds for a genetic problem that I can't control. In unison, you chant and make me feel small and embarrass me. That is straight-up bullying and not cool.' John, who just won a record-breaking 17th WrestleMania world title, added, 'Thank you for bullying me into surgical hair replacement. That's how far y'all pushed me.' He defended his choice, saying, 'There is no shame in that. [Balding] happens to seven out of 10 dudes. I got a problem. I try to fix it.' Asked about the procedure by the panel of media personalities on the show, he detailed, 'You have to take the [hair] from the side and plant [it] in at the top.' 'It just takes a while for it to come in,' he added. John wore a black hat and T-shirt while on the live show, explaining that he is anticipating significant hair growth over the forthcoming weeks. 'Hopefully in a couple of months, it looks better,' he noted. And the longtime wrestler, who revealed he had the procedure in November, joked, 'But I can't grow a mustache. I got nothing.' WWE's WrestleMania wrapped on Sunday night, with Cena becoming a record-breaker in winning his 17th world championship. He solidified his status as the greatest of all time, surpassing Ric Flair as the man with the most world titles ever. John was able to dethrone Cody Rhodes with help from Texas-bred rapper Travis Scott. Missing from the action was The Rock, who has not been seen since he helped Cena earlier this year. In February Cena announced his WWE retirement after 22 years. He's been a mainstay in the company's legendary tropes for more than two decades, battling the likes of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Triple H, Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton. Since making a name for himself in the ring, Cena has pivoted to a successful acting career. He starred in the Fast and Furious franchise, later appearing in Barbie, Daddy's Home and Trainwreck.
