News

Honey bee colony declines up 10%

 

A national survey of beekeepers found colony losses increased by 10 percent from last October through this April to the highest level since 2010.

Julie Shapiro with the Honey Bee Health Coalition tells Brownfield colony losses are caused by a multitude of factors including pests and diseases, pesticides, and poor nutrition. “Some of our members have remarked that it was a bad year for weather and that could have effected some beekeepers, but there’s all these other factors.”

She says the coalition has resources for farmers to protect bees and create pollinator habitats. “At every stage of the lifecycle of your crop there are different ways to help bees.  Whether you’re planting treated seeds, if you’re looking to do a foliar application to manage pests throughout the season—thinking about the timing of your application and communicating with bee keepers that have hives on or near your land.”

Shapiro says beekeepers historically expect to lose about 10-15 percent of their colonies over the winter.

The Bee Informed Partnership says colony losses are up about three percent from the 10-year average.

AUDIO: Interview with Julie Shapiro