Friends of Merrymeeting Bay will continue its 18th annual Winter Speaker Series with “The Value of Honey Bees to Maine Agriculture,” on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. upstairs at The Old Goat in Richmond. The event is free and open to the public.

The American Beekeeping Federation estimates one third of food and beverages in the United States are made possible because of bee pollination, an industry contributing $20-$30 billion in annual crop production.

In the last 30 years, beekeepers have faced multiple challenges, including parasitic mite species, new viral pathogen strains, microsporidia, Africanized bees and widespread pesticide/herbicide use. Colony collapse disorder also continues to decimate global populations with an average 30 percent of managed U.S. honey bee colonies lost every year since 2007.

Despite these problems, the commercial bee industry has been able thus far, to meet the pollination demand of Maine blueberry growers and their economically vital crop.

Apiarist Tony Jadczak will discuss challenges facing local bee colonies and beekeepers and effects on statewide agriculture.

Jadczak, Maine’s State Apiarist since 1983 and a beekeeper since the age of 14, is responsible for licensing resident beekeepers, inspecting colonies for regulated diseases and parasites, and educating apiarists and the general public on proper beekeeping techniques.

Prior to his employment with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Jadczak conducted research on blueberry and cranberry pollination at Rutgers University after his graduation there.

The Old Goat is located at 33 Main Street in Richmond.

Visit www.fomb.org for the full speaker series schedule and more information about the Friends of Merrymeeting Bay.