Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board. Letters to the Editor reflect the view of a member of the campus community and are submitted to the publication for approval.

To whom it may concern,

I’m responding to Noah Pasley’s article in The Collegian titled “Beer lovers rejoice: CSU proves hops can grow year-round,” published on Feb. 3. 

This article brought up some interesting points about plant growth and the specific conditions that most plants require to grow efficiently. While I agree that lighting is a critical part of crop productivity, this article also made me think of another often overlooked aspect of any crop growth: the pollinators.

I hope I can start an educated discussion with my fellow Collegian readers about our little pollinators.”

I consider myself an environmental advocate and an activist for wildlife conservation. Many people are not aware of the pollinator crisis that we are currently dealing with, and it continues to affect citizens in Colorado, whether they know about it or not.

Bees, specifically, are dying off at twice the sustainable rate at the moment. According to Yale Environment 360, we are losing 30% of our colonies in the United States every year, while the sustainable rate is calculated at under 15%.

We rely on bees to pollinate all the crops that Colorado and Fort Collins hold in high regard, including hops for our beer, corn for our beef and dairy and marijuana for our blunts. I hope I can start an educated discussion with my fellow Collegian readers about our little pollinators.

I look forward to seeing others’ perspectives on this pressing issue.

Thank you,

Allie McGirk

Colorado State University soil and crop sciences intern

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