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  Honeybee colonies decline in East Tennessee as officials research causes  U.S. Department of Agriculture is currently working with multiple colleges and nonprofits to identify the potential causes of a steep decline in honey colonies. According to a recent study,  over 60% of commercial colonies, and over 50% of hobbyist colonies have declined this year. Michael Keaton of Dandridge said he has never seen bee colonies dwindle so fast in his five years of beekeeping “It is sad if you care about anything and care about life on earth when a colony dies,” said Keaton.   According to the  USDA,  about 35% of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. Keaton said cutting off bee’s food supply by mowing, chopping down trees, or the use of pesticides could be contributing to the decline.   “I only lost two hives, I lost like 2% of mine, and a lot of people across the U.S. have lost up to 60%.” he said.   While many beekeepers in the commu...

  New data confirm catastrophic honey bee colony losses,underscoring urgent need for action Newly analyzed data confirm the staggering honey bee colony losses detailed last month of 1.6 million colonies lost with commercial beekeepers sustaining an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and March 2025. Additional survey responses and field analyses now paint an even darker picture, reinforcing concerns about the long-term viability of pollination services critical to U.S. agriculture. Experts warn that without immediate intervention, the ripple effects could drive up costs for farmers, disrupt food production and shutter many commercial beekeeping operations. “Beekeeping businesses are facing unprecedented challenges that threaten their survival from colony losses we haven’t seen in nearly 20 years. The swift response from stakeholders and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is critical in providing beekeepers with the data and information to make well informed decisions to sustain t...

  How PIT became a haven for honeybees What started as a grounded Delta flight in 2012 is now one of the country's largest airport apiaries — home to as many as 4 million honeybees. Why it matters:  The beekeeping initiative at  Pittsburgh International Airport  protects pollinators and keeps passengers safe. Zoom in:  PIT has over 150 honeybee colonies, located on unused grasslands away from passenger areas. The program is led by master beekeeper Stephen Repasky and Allegheny County Airport Authority wildlife administrator Ben Shertzer. The airport colonies produce 3,000-4,000 pounds of honey annually, sold locally by Repasky's  Meadow Sweet Apiaries  at the Sewickley Farmers Market. Catch up quick:  The effort took off more than a decade ago when thousands of honeybees swarmed the wing of a Delta plane during refueling, briefly delaying the flight and making  national headlines . Instead of calling pest control, PIT turned to Repasky to saf...

Vt. beekeepers grapple with population decline Honeybees are in a sticky situation nationwide, including in our region. On average, 40 to 50 percent of U.S. honeybee colonies die annually. This year, industry experts estimate a historic jump to 60 to 70 percent or higher. Each spring, beekeeper Charles Mraz wakes up his hives at Champlain Valley Apiaries. This year, fewer bees emerged. “Ideally, this bee yard would have about 40 colonies in it,” Mraz said. He’s used to losing some, but this season’s estimated 65 percent die-off is a heartbreaking record. “I have to admit it, I’ve been down on my knees in bee yards before. We love our bees. We do everything, every day, for them to survive.” The University of Vermont’s Vermont Bee Lab says it’s hearing similar. “We’ve had some beekeepers reporting losses around that national figure, around 60%, which is pretty devastating for these businesses in the farming community,” said UVM’s Samantha Alger. Brooke Decker at the Vermont Agency of ...

  Local Beekeeper expresses importance of Honeybees and Native Pollinators With honeybees playing a critical role in agriculture and food production, one local beekeeper is calling attention to their importance—and the growing need to protect both domesticated bees and native pollinators. Dale Lewis, owner of Youngest Son Beekeeping near MacGregor, Manitoba, has been raising bees since he was 14 years old. Now managing around 250 hives, Lewis says honeybees are vital not only for honey production but also for pollinating crops that feed communities. "The bulk of the pollination around here is done by bees," explains Lewis "Beekeepers bring their hives to crops to ensure good pollination, which boosts yields and leads to more food per acre." However, bee populations are increasingly at risk. Lewis said that while his farm once lost fewer than 5% of its hives over winter, this year saw a 20% loss—better than Manitoba's average loss of 40 to 60%. To mitigate winter...

  Honeybee Festival new venue next year The Palisade International Honeybee Festival will move to a new venue at Cross Orchards Historic Site next April 11. Cross Orchards, part of the Museums of Western Colorado, provides a living demonstration of historic farming operations at its 3073 F Road (Patterson) location. Board President Michelle Gossage said it was a unanimous decision of the Palisade International Honeybee Festival board to move to Cross Orchards, because the festival has outgrown its original venue of downtown Palisade. “We owe a debt of gratitude to the Town of Palisade, which has supported the festival since our beginning. We could not have enjoyed the success we have experienced without the support of the town and the good people of Palisade,” Gossage said. Gossage said the new venue will provide more space for vendors, more parking, more activity features, an easy access location and many more helping hands. The festival will continue to have free admission. “We a...

  May resources for Michigan beekeepers In May, healthy honey bee colonies in Michigan usually draw comb and build up in population. Some colonies may be inclined to swarm, especially during strong nectar flows. Beekeepers often split colonies in May to deter swarming and increase colony numbers. Beekeepers in Michigan inspect honey bee colonies regularly to make sure they have the right amount of space in the hive, have sufficient food, are queenright, are maintaining low varroa mite loads and are otherwise healthy. Beekeepers can access the following online resources, including webinars and videos, to stay informed, ask questions and work to keep honey honey bee colonies healthy. May beekeeping webinar and webinar recordings from past years   Join  Michigan State University Extension  for  May Michigan Beekeeping Office Hours  on Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. The  2025 series of Michigan Beekeeping Office Hours webinars  will focus time for answering...

  After a tough winter, Colorado beekeepers are busy keeping hives alive For Lazarus Fields, there’s always something new to learn about bees. “Every hive has their own little temperament,” he said, standing in a buzzing backyard on the northeast border of Colorado Springs. The longtime beekeeper, who doubles as a school teacher in Colorado Springs School District 11, can be found this time of year traveling around the Pikes Peak region on an itinerant mission: managing hives during swarm season. Lazarus Fields, right, and Frankie Bailey inspect a hive on Angela Kataza’s property east of Colorado Springs on Friday, March 28, 2025. Fields is the swarm coordinator for the Pikes Peak Beekeepers Association. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) Christian Murdock, The Gazette For a few weeks in spring, honeybee colonies might split to create hives as part of a natural reproductive cycle. If left alone, the new hive could end up in inconvenient places. Enter Fields, who is the swarm coordina...