An executive representing four agricultural sector self-insured workers' comp groups called on California state officials to stop the continuing bee die-off that he said threatens $6 billion worth of crops in the state.

Joe Wheeler, vice president of Ontario, Calif.-based Self Insured Solutions' complained that “nobody is working on a solution” to save the bee-pollinated crop in 2007. Commercial bee colonies “are dying off at a rate of up to 60 percent in California,” he said.

If the bee deaths continue, “widespread food shortages are sure to follow. That is why our agricultural self-insured groups are calling on Governor Schwarzenegger and the California Assembly to fund immediate, crisis-level research,” he said.

Self Insured Solutions, manages four agricultural self-insured workers' comp groups in California and represents 228 companies across the state

Ned Barnett, a spokesperson for Self Insured Solutions said as a result of the bee problem, “Some of the companies are feeling the pain already. Others are looking down the road and understanding the impact of the loss–that it's going to affect revenues.”

The firm is speaking out, he said, because besides providing companies with workers' compensation insurance, “we're concerned about their overall business.”

Self Insured Solutions wants the state to act because the only thing Congress has done so far is hold a hearing, said Mr. Barnett.

Special Reports /

Bee Problem Stirs Comp Insurer

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