Missouri and Kansas face alarming bee colony loss rates
Missouri and Kansas face alarming bee colony loss rates
Bee colonies are vanishing at an alarming rate across the country, and new research shows Missouri and Kansas as among the states hit the hardest.
BestMadHoney‘s recent analysis of preliminary research data from the Apiary Inspectors of America has revealed which states from which bees are disappearing the fastest and the results may not sound good to the average bee lover and, according to science, it impacts everyone in the long term.
Locally, Missouri and Kansas’ participation in the study gives residents an idea of how few bee colonies remain in the states compared to days gone by.
According to data, Missouri has lost 49% of its bee colonies, while Kansas has lost 48%. Missouri is rated as having the 17th highest rate of bee colony loss in the nation, while Kansas comes in right behind its neighbor as the state with the 18th highest level of colony loss. Some states are already nearing a full loss of their colonies in places like Wisconsin (91% loss), Nevada (86% loss), Nebraska (82% loss), and Iowa (82% loss).
“Our findings reveal a troubling picture for bee populations across America – one with serious consequences for society. With colony loss rates exceeding 80% in four states, we’re witnessing a genuine crisis that threatens not only honey production, but the stability of our entire food system,” said Dr. Sanjay Kalfe, CEO and Founder of BestMadHoney.
Experts say environmental factors like climate have played a large role in these declines.
Dr. Kalfe says the large difference in numbers between states could be a result of local factors impacting bee colonies in different ways depending on the state.
“The sharp regional differences we’ve observed suggest that local factors – from pesticide use to climate conditions – play a major role in colony health. States with lower loss rates may hold valuable lessons that can help us respond to this crisis nationwide,” said Dr. Kalfe.
Below is the full list of states with significant colony loss released by Apiary Inspectors of America. Note not every one of the fifty states had data presented, and there is no data for Oklahoma or Arkansas presented in this study.
Complete U.S. states’ bee colony loss rates:
| Rank | State | Bee colony loss rate |
| 1 | Wisconsin | 91% |
| 2 | Nevada | 86% |
| ~3 | Nebraska | 82% |
| ~3 | Iowa | 82% |
| 4 | Utah | 71% |
| 5 | Connecticut | 67% |
| 6 | Oregon | 66% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 64% |
| 8 | Vermont | 62% |
| 9 | Texas | 61% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 59% |
| ~11 | New Jersey | 58% |
| ~11 | Idaho | 58% |
| ~11 | California | 58% |
| ~11 | North Dakota | 58% |
| ~12 | Louisiana | 55% |
| ~12 | Massachusetts | 55% |
| 13 | Florida | 54% |
| ~14 | Michigan | 53% |
| ~14 | New York | 53% |
| ~14 | Illinois | 53% |
| ~15 | Maine | 52% |
| ~15 | Pennsylvania | 52% |
| ~15 | Ohio | 52% |
| ~15 | Alabama | 52% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 51% |
| 17 | Missouri | 49% |
| 18 | Kansas | 48% |
| 19 | Mississippi | 47% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 46% |
| 21 | North Carolina | 45% |
| 22 | Georgia | 44% |
| ~23 | Washington | 43% |
| ~23 | Maryland | 43% |
| ~23 | Colorado | 43% |
| ~24 | Virginia | 42% |
| ~24 | Kentucky | 42% |
| 25 | Tennessee | 39% |
| 26 | Indiana | 34% |
“Bees pollinate about one-third of the food we consume in the United States, making them essential for both agriculture and food security. Every lost colony is a step backward in our ability to maintain sustainable production,” said Dr. Kalfe.
CLICK HERE for more information about bees in the United States, and follow this link to learn more about BestMadHoney.
Interested in learning more about beekeeping? Visit the American Beekeeping Federation website to learn more.
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