Massive honey bee die-offs are leaving bee keepers scrambling

New data reveals massive honey bee die-offs.

USDA reports 60% of commercial colonies lost in California. Mites are fighting back as they become more resistant to treatments, threatening pollinators.

That mass kill-off left bee keepers scrambling this spring.

New research out of Georgia shows just how valuable that pollinating system is to the state’s blueberry crop.

Blueberries were a half a billion dollar crop in Georgia back in 2023. Researchers at the University of Georgia collected more than 5,000 individual bees across eight commercial farms.
They found 72 species, marking the most detailed survey of its kind to date.

They also discovered wild bee activity goes beyond the blueberry bloom, making it important to offer blooming flowers throughout the season.

Related Stories
Treat financial stress as a health risk—know the warning signs, normalize conversations, and connect farm families to local and national support early.
Congress has just over a month of working days left for the year. Plan for uneven USDA service until funding is restored, and closely monitor Farm Bill talks, as avoiding Permanent Law before January 1 is the single biggest risk to markets and milk prices.
Mexico’s tougher, two-step treatment and added checkpoints are catching cases before they can spread—good news for producers near the border.
Jack Daniel’s will end its Cow Feeder Program, which served around 100 livestock operations near the distillery, and redirect spent grains to its anaerobic digester.