State of American Beekeeping
Analysis of colony health, regional challenges, and industry trends based on data from 2,453 beekeeping operations managing 219,097 colonies nationwide
Key Findings
Regional Loss Patterns
Colony losses varied dramatically across regions, with rates ranging from 34.3% to 90.5% by state. Geographic patterns reveal distinct challenges facing beekeepers in different climate zones and agricultural systems.
Northern Plains & Upper Midwest
South Dakota reported the nation's highest Varroa mite pressure at 70% of colonies affected. Extended winter periods and intense agricultural monocultures compound stress factors. Late-season mite buildup warned of catastrophic winter losses.
Southeast
Alabama experienced 62% Varroa infestation rates. Higher year-round activity levels increase pest pressure but allow faster colony recovery. Humid conditions favor both bees and pathogens.
Southwest & Texas
Texas reported 60% Varroa rates alongside drought-related forage limitations. Extended heat events stress colonies while supporting year-round brood rearing that sustains mite reproduction.
Pacific Coast & West
California's massive almond pollination demands (requiring 60% of US colonies) concentrate losses geographically. Mild winters reduce cold-related mortality but sustain continuous pest cycles.
Loss Rates by Operation Size
For the first time in survey history, commercial operations experienced higher losses than backyard beekeepers, reversing the typical pattern.
Commercial Beekeepers
- Manage 92% of surveyed colonies but represent only 5.5% of beekeepers
- Heavy exposure to agricultural pesticides during pollination contracts
- High colony density facilitates rapid disease transmission
- Late-season Varroa pressure particularly severe in this sector
Backyard Beekeepers
- Represent 94.5% of beekeepers but manage only 8% of colonies
- Loss rate increased 6.3 percentage points from previous year
- Variable management practices and treatment consistency
- Lower colony density may reduce pathogen spread
Primary Threat Factors
Varroa Destructor Mites
Parasitic Varroa mites affected nearly 50% of US colonies through the first half of 2024, identified as the leading stressor for colony health. The mites vector multiple viral pathogens while directly weakening colonies through blood-feeding on adult bees and developing brood.
Pesticide Exposure
Field samples show widespread pesticide residues in pollen and wax. Neonicotinoids and fungicide combinations affect colony health through sublethal impacts on navigation, foraging efficiency, and immune function.
Climate Extremes
Record heat events during summer 2024 stressed colonies and reduced nectar availability. Temperature extremes above 104°F cause significant bee mortality and disrupt normal colony functions.
Nutritional Stress
Monoculture agriculture limits forage diversity. Colonies require diverse pollen sources for optimal health, but agricultural intensification reduces flowering plant availability outside crop bloom periods.
Pathogen Load
Viral and bacterial diseases compound with Varroa infestation. Nosema fungal infections and deformed wing virus particularly problematic when combined with other stressors.
Following this survey period, beekeepers reported unprecedented losses beginning January 2025. Project Apis m. emergency surveys documented approximately 1.6 million colony losses among commercial operations, representing the largest single-season loss event in US beekeeping history.
USDA Agricultural Research Service mobilized researchers to analyze samples from 114 California colonies. Comprehensive testing for pathogens, pesticide residues, and novel disease agents is underway at multiple federal and university laboratories. Results expected to inform emergency management recommendations.
Colony Collapse Disorder Status
Traditional Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) continues declining as a distinct syndrome. Only 70,650 colonies lost to CCD January-March 2024, representing a 34% decrease from 2023. Full-year 2024 CCD cases projected to decline approximately 20% year-over-year.
However, the shift away from classic CCD symptoms toward high generalized losses suggests evolving threat patterns. Current losses show different characteristics than historical CCD, indicating potential new stressor combinations or pathogen emergence.
Management & Conservation Implications
Economic Impact
Despite record losses, total managed colony numbers remained near 2.6 million through intensive beekeeper replacement efforts. This stability comes at enormous cost in labor, equipment, and replacement stock.
Commercial beekeepers face unprecedented financial pressure, with many operations reporting losses exceeding sustainable replacement capacity. Pollination service costs likely to increase as beekeepers pass through higher operational expenses.
Treatment Strategies
Late-season Varroa monitoring and aggressive fall treatment programs essential for winter survival. Integrated pest management approaches combining multiple treatment types show better efficacy than single-method protocols.
Beekeepers should monitor mite levels monthly during brood-rearing seasons, treating when thresholds exceed 3% mite infestation rates in adult bee populations.
Habitat & Nutrition
Diversified forage landscapes support healthier colonies with better disease resistance. Field margins, cover crops, and native plantings provide crucial nutritional resources during periods when crops aren't blooming.
Beekeepers should site apiaries near diverse flowering resources when possible, and supplement with pollen substitute during dearth periods.
Research Priorities
Understanding Winter 2024-2025 crisis causation remains urgent priority. Potential amitraz resistance, novel pathogens, and pesticide mixture effects all require immediate investigation.
Long-term monitoring programs like this survey provide essential data for tracking trends and evaluating intervention effectiveness. Continued participation by beekeepers of all operation sizes remains critical.
Survey Methodology
The 2024-2025 US Beekeeping Survey was conducted by Auburn University and the Apiary Inspectors of America, with support from Oregon State University. This continues the long-term monitoring tradition established by the Bee Informed Partnership.
Loss rates calculated as ratio of colonies lost to colonies at risk during defined periods. These represent mortality rates, not population change, as beekeepers replace losses throughout the year. All estimates include 95% confidence intervals derived from bootstrapped distributions.
Survey supported by One Hive Foundation, National Honey Board, Project Apis m., North Dakota Department of Agriculture, American Beekeeping Federation, and American Honey Producers Association.
2025 Outlook
The Winter 2024-2025 crisis event underscores the fragility of US pollination services. While beekeepers have demonstrated remarkable resilience in rebuilding colonies after losses, consecutive years of extreme mortality strain both operational sustainability and beekeeper mental health.
Ongoing research into loss causes should inform updated management recommendations by mid-2025. Integration of multiple stressor mitigation strategies (Varroa control, nutrition supplementation, pesticide reduction) offers best path toward reducing losses to sustainable levels.
Federal and state support for habitat creation, research funding, and emergency assistance programs remain essential for industry stability. Pollination-dependent agriculture cannot function without healthy, abundant managed bee populations.