Latest news with #AmericanBeekeepingFederation
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Catastrophic' Loss of Bees Nationwide Is Worrying Experts
The "catastrophic" and escalating loss of honey bee colonies across the United States is concerning experts. A nationwide survey of beekeepers "has revealed catastrophic honey bee colony losses across the United States, with commercial operations reporting an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and February 2025," according to The Honey Bee Health Coalition. "These alarming losses, which surpass historical trends, could significantly impact U.S. agriculture, particularly crop pollination for almonds, fruits, vegetables, and other essential food sources," The Coalition wrote in the 2025 news release. 'Early reports of severe colony losses began pouring in last month from beekeepers across the country,' said Danielle Downey, executive director of Project Apis m, in February 2025. 'In response, a multi-organizational working group—including Project Apis m., the American Beekeeping Federation, and the American Honey Producers Association—quickly mobilized to launch this survey. The goal was to assess the scope and severity of the losses, gather critical management data, and help guide research efforts to determine potential causes.' According to the Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium, a "honey bee colony typically consists of three kinds of adult bees: workers, drones, and a queen. Several thousand worker bees cooperate in nest building, food collection, and brood rearing. Each member has a definite task to perform, related to its adult age. But surviving and reproducing take the combined efforts of the entire colony." Beekeepers are speaking out to local news outlets. 'The concern for beekeepers is that this is turning out to be one of the worst losses nationally that we've seen, historically,' said Dan Conlon, who runs an Apiary in South Deerfield, MA, with his wife, to The Greenfield Recorder. 'What's different about it is that a lot of the people who generally have done pretty well during those periods are doing badly as well," he said in the May 2, 2025, article. The losses are great, the study says. 'Initial survey results of colony losses suggest that commercial beekeepers may have lost in excess of 60% of their bees. The scale of these losses is completely unsustainable,' said Zac Browning, a fourth-generation commercial beekeeper and board chairman of Project Apis m, in the release. 'Honey bees are the backbone of our food system, pollinating the crops that feed our nation. If we continue to see losses at this rate, we simply won't be able to sustain current food production. The industry must look inward and outward for solutions to chronic bee health failure.' According to the site, "The survey gathered data from 702 beekeepers, covering colony losses, management practices, and potential contributing factors. It is estimated that survey participants account for over 1.835 million colonies, approximately 68% of the nation's bees."
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Catastrophic' Honeybee Deaths In The U.S. Could Mean Higher Prices At The Grocery Store
Commercial beekeepers across the United States are sounding the alarm, detailing what's being called a 'catastrophic' loss of honeybees in less than a year. Between June 2024 and March 2025 beekeepers lost 62% of their honeybees, an estimated 1.6 million colonies, according to a survey conducted by Project Apis m., a non-profit organization that supports beekeepers and beekeeping science. 'Beekeeping businesses are facing unprecedented challenges that threaten their survival from colony losses we haven't seen in nearly 20 years,' said Patty Sundberg, President of the American Beekeeping Federation. The honeybee deaths add up to an estimated $600 million in lost honey production. And while beekeepers are accustomed to losing some of their bees every year, many businesses may not be able to recover from this season's devastating losses. (MORE: Cicadas In April? It Could Happen In These 13 States) One beekeeper in the survey said, 'We borrowed from our house, from our retirement, from family. We borrowed to keep the business going. Now those bees are gone. This is what it means to have back to back losses on a farm. We took a large loss two years ago. We borrowed against our long-term investments to buy back into bees. We ran our bees again. We focused on their health. We asked for help. We did what we were supposed to do. But when the losses hit again, there is no way to recover. It's all gone. The equity on the house is gone, our retirement is gone, the family member's money is gone. All that's left are empty boxes. We don't even have the dead bees. They are gone too.' But this doesn't just impact bee farmers or your favorite honey at the supermarket. Project Apis m. says honeybees pollinate 75% of crops, including almonds, apples, blueberries, melons and pumpkins, so the honeybee shortage could lead to produce shortages and higher prices at grocery stores. Scientists are not sure what's to blame for the large-scale and 'unexpected' deaths. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are investigating potential pathogens, parasites, and nutritional problems. Cornell University is also looking into environmental factors including how extreme weather and climate change may impact colony health. MORE ON Spring Snow Blankets Parts Of Texas Tornado Terror: Family Recounts Moment Tree Falls On Home First Major 2025 Hurricane Season Outlook Released
