US EditionMinnesota man on a mission to save honeybees, shrink pesticide use
MINNESOTA, USA, JUL 22 – Steve Ellis leads national efforts to reduce neonicotinoid pesticide use, citing a 40% hive loss last summer and advocating policy changes to protect pollinators.
- During a visit, Steve Ellis reported that last year was the worst in recorded history for bee mortality at his farm near Barrett, Minnesota, highlighting escalating pollinator losses.
- In the decades since neonicotinoid use began, Ellis has led advocacy against pesticides, serving as president of the national Pollinator Stewardship Council.
- In a suit against a paper company and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ellis and a fellow beekeeper sued, with the dispute reaching the Minnesota Supreme Court.
- Steve Ellis notes Kennedy’s potential backing despite controversy, highlighting shared concerns over pesticide overuse, and Ellis is cautiously optimistic about support from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,
- At 70, Ellis plans to continue fighting pesticide threats even as he scales back his operation, underscoring global reliance on pollinators.
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21 Articles
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Minnesota man on a mission to save honeybees, shrink pesticide use
BARRETT, Minn. — Steve Ellis’ journey from college student to nationally known bee advocate began in 1978 when he came to Minnesota to work a summer job on a bee farm. It changed his life. He fell in love with the work, and “also fell for the beekeeper’s daughter,” he says laughing. Nearly 50 years later, Ellis is a recognized expert in the business of bees. He’s seen success and failure over the years, and he remains as passionate as ever about…
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