F-1 - City of Tiffin Honey Bee Day Proclamation

PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TIFFIN WHEREAS, Honey bees and native insects are important as pollinators for a third of the food we eat. Honey bees are vital in production of over 90 crops grown across the nation, many of which are in Iowa. Honey bees contribute to a healthy Iowa environment by assuring the availability of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and flowers for wildlife and all Iowans; and, WHEREAS, Iowa's 45,000 or more honey bee hives produce about 4 million pounds of honey valued at over $8 million and honey bees provide an estimated $92 million economic value to Iowa crops from their pollination; and, WHEREAS, Iowa has over 4,500 beekeepers representing hobbyists, sideliners as part-time small businesses and fulltime commercial beekeepers. Beekeepers have as few as 1-2 hives in a single apiary to a hundred apiaries with thousands of hives of individual commercial operations; and, WHEREAS, traditionally, beekeeping occurred in rural areas of Iowa. Now bee hives increasingly are in urban areas with the rising interest of hobby beekeepers that keep honey bees in Iowa cities and towns; and, WHEREAS, the State of Iowa has an active apiary program that protects honey bees and beekeepers by inspecting for apiary diseases and pests as well as actively encouraging best beekeeping practices by outreach to individuals and beekeeping groups; and, WHEREAS, Honey bees face serious threats from invasive pests and disease, decreasing bee friendly habitat, variable climate and pesticide and herbicide pressure. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Steven L. Berner, Mayor of the City of Tiffin, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Iowa and the City of Tiffin, do hereby proclaim March 30, 2022, as the City of Tiffin Honey Bee Day corresponding to Governor Reynolds State of Iowa Honey Bee Day Proclamation and encourage all citizens, residents and visitors to join in observing this day and focusing on the importance of honey bees to our state economy, to enjoy the honey and other products of the hive, to recognize the honey bees’ role in maintaining our Iowa environment, and to assist in reducing the threats to honey bee survival in our state. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of the City to be affixed this 1st day of March, 2022. Signed this 1st day of March 2022, in Johnson County, Iowa. City of Tiffin ____________________________ Steven L. Berner, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________ Abigail Hora, City Clerk