Now so-called " colony collapse disorder " or ccd continues to kill bees -- who provide some $ 15 billion worth of economic good via pollination and other efforts .
Meanwhile , the recent high prices for pollination contracts made it look worthwhile fattening bees up with supplements over the winter . That may help explain why there have been fewer colony collapses .
Corn came within pennies of $ 7 a bushel for the first time since september as the heat places stress on stalks during their fragile pollination phase .