URBANA, Ill. (RFD NEWS) — Honey bee colony numbers may look stable, but University of Illinois farmdoc economists say beekeepers are spending heavily just to maintain inventories, with many U.S. beekeepers replacing and renovating colonies fast enough to offset large annual losses.
Since 2008, beekeepers have reported losing about 41 percent of colonies per year on average. Even so, U.S. colony numbers rebounded from 2.34 million in 2008 to about 2.6 million in recent years.
That stability comes at a cost. Beekeepers buy feed, pest treatments, and replacement colonies while also splitting and renovating existing hives. Varroa mites remain the leading reported stressor, affecting nearly half of colonies during April through June.
Those costs matter beyond honey production. Many specialty crops, including almonds, apples, and sunflowers, depend on managed pollination services. Higher colony losses can raise pressure on pollination availability and pricing.
The farmdoc authors estimate 2024 colony stock losses at roughly $175 million, with rebuilding and renovation costs near $161 million.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Stable bee numbers do not equate to low risk, as beekeepers are spending more to maintain pollination capacity.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
READ MORE: https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/
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