Shutting Down Federal Bee Labs Threatens The US Food System Authored by Jennie Durant via TheConversation.com, America’s bees and beekeepers are losing a valuable ally just when they need its help most. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to soon close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center , a 6,500-acre agricultural research station in Maryland that is home to the nation’s premier bee ...
Shutting Down Federal Bee Labs Threatens The US Food System Authored by Jennie Durant via TheConversation.com, America’s bees and beekeepers are losing a valuable ally just when they need its help most. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to soon close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center , a 6,500-acre agricultural research station in Maryland that is home to the nation’s premier bee research and disease diagnosis hub, the Beltsville Bee Research Lab . The closure comes at a critical moment for bees. In winter 2025, many beekeepers lost over half their operations as pesticide-resistant varroa mites spread, bringing deadly viruses. The losses have led to low honey production , and soaring fuel costs have made shipping bees cross-country for agricultural pollination increasingly expensive, further stressing the industry. Beekeeping involves keeping colonies as healthy as possible. Often, beekeepers need help. Allagash Brewing/Flickr , CC BY During my 14 years researching bees and beekeepers , and in writing my new book, “ Bitter Honey: Big Ag’s Threat to Bees and the Fight to Save Them ,” I’ve seen beekeepers frequently turn to the USDA bee labs for support during crises like this. Because honey bees contribute roughly US$15 billion to U.S. crop production – native and managed bees pollinate more than 130 crops – these labs help stabilize the nation’s food system. Today, that scientific support system is at risk, just as beekeepers face their greatest challenges and native bee populations continue to decline . Why the Beltsville Bee Lab matters USDA’s bee researchers have served beekeepers for over 130 years , including nearly 90 years at the Beltsville station. One of the Beltsville Bee Lab’s standout services is its bee disease diagnostic service , where beekeepers can send samples for analysis free of charge. Since the early 2000s, Beltsville researchers have helped beekeepers respond to varroa mites – a primary driver of high colony losses each year. ...
Hanwha Aerospace Co. confirmed that an explosion occurred at its facility in Daejeon in central South Korea on Monday, as emergency authorities responded to reports of a blast and heavy smoke at the site. The Korean defense giant said it was still verifying details of the incident, including whether there were any casualties. Four people were killed and two others were injured from the explosion, ...
Hanwha Aerospace Co. confirmed that an explosion occurred at its facility in Daejeon in central South Korea on Monday, as emergency authorities responded to reports of a blast and heavy smoke at the site. The Korean defense giant said it was still verifying details of the incident, including whether there were any casualties. Four people were killed and two others were injured from the explosion, according to Yonhap News Agency. Yonhap earlier reported that fire authorities received about 30 emergency calls at around 10:59 a.m. local time reporting a loud explosion and thick smoke at the facility. Police and fire officials suspect the incident may have involved propellant-related materials and plan to investigate the cause once the fire is extinguished, Yonhap reported. President Lee Jae Myung was briefed on the accident and instructed authorities to mobilize all available resources for rescue efforts and accident response, according to the presidential Blue House. Lee also ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion and called for measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Tippapatt/iStock via Getty Images Quarterly review • The fund underperformed the ICE BofA 1–3 Year BB U.S. Cash Pay High Yield Index benchmark for the quarter. • Duration and curve positioning detracted from performance during the period, while quality allocation, sector allocation, and security selection contributed. Market review Fixed income markets navigated a series of shocks throughout the f...
Tippapatt/iStock via Getty Images Quarterly review • The fund underperformed the ICE BofA 1–3 Year BB U.S. Cash Pay High Yield Index benchmark for the quarter. • Duration and curve positioning detracted from performance during the period, while quality allocation, sector allocation, and security selection contributed. Market review Fixed income markets navigated a series of shocks throughout the first quarter of 2026, including the rise of artificial intelligence disintermediation risks, private credit wobbles, and elevated geopolitical tensions, culminating in U.S. military strikes on Venezuela and Iran. Despite heightened volatility, U.S. economic momentum remained firm, with growth steady, inflation modestly hotter than expected, and the labor market resilient. U.S. growth continued to be supported by a strong, albeit K-shaped, consumer and rising AI-related capital expenditure, both further bolstered by fiscal stimulus. Household and corporate balance sheets remained healthy, with consumer net worth ending 2025 at all-time highs. Labor market conditions remained consistent with full employment, characterized by limited layoffs, subdued hiring, and a gradual increase in the duration of unemployment. These dynamics weighed on duration and drove a hawkish repricing across global rates markets. The U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) held rates unchanged, with forward guidance signaling an extended pause amid renewed energy-driven inflation risks. Meanwhile, the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Fed chair introduced additional uncertainty around the policy outlook. Select emerging market central banks eased policy rates, but the broader global trend was toward steady rates. Corporate credit proved more resilient than rates but came under pressure as volatility and uncertainty increased. Investment-grade spreads widened modestly amid higher rate volatility, increased issuance, and AI-related disruption risks, though fundamentals remained stable. High yield spreads widened more mat...