From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

The mysteriously disappearing honeybees.

I'm Barbara Bogave sitting in for Warren Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Honeybees, the tiny farm workers responsible for dozens of crops, from almonds to cherries,

have been dying off at alarming rates for more than two decades.

And recently the deaths have spiked.

Beekeepers report they lost more than 40% of their hives in the past year.

A White House task force proposes planting wildflowers along pollination routes to help the ailing bees.

But many environmentalists are more concerned about pesticide use.

The plight of the honeybee and the multi-billion dollar agriculture industry that depends on them. That's coming up.

And on today's talking point,

Cuba's comeback, it's official, it's off the U.S. terrorism list. First News.

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continuous coverage and accessible via our smartphone app or online at kCRW.

Support for To The Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

And back with To the Point on Barbara Bogave in for Warren Olney.

Just ahead, where did all the honeybees go?

A sudden spike in the already troubling death of honeybees is alarming beekeepers, farmers, and environmentalists.

But they can't agree what's causing it.

And that's coming up.

And later on today's talking point, U.S.-Cuba relations have been slowly thawing, but today there was some major melting.

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