The US Honeybee Crisis

As a beekeeper, I am deeply concerned about the recent reports highlighting unprecedented honeybee colony losses across the United States. According to a recent CBS News article, the U.S. beekeeping industry is facing a crisis due to the unexplained deaths of hundreds of millions of bees over the last eight months. (Source: CBS News)

The Guardian also reports that commercial beekeepers have experienced more than 60% colony losses over the past winter, marking the highest loss in U.S. history. These losses are attributed to a combination of factors, including habitat loss, pesticide use, poor handling practices, lack of nutrition, and infestations by varroa mites and diseases.

While my own hives have remained healthy this season, I recognize that this crisis affects us all! 

Honeybees are essential pollinators, responsible for pollinating approximately 75% of the fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in the U.S., contributing to $15 billion worth of crops annually. The decline in bee populations threatens not only honey production but also the stability of our food supply.

It's imperative that we support research efforts to identify the primary causes of these losses and implement sustainable practices to protect our pollinators. As beekeepers, farmers, and consumers, we must work together to ensure the health and survival of honeybee populations for the benefit of our ecosystems and food systems.

A Beekeeper's Perspective: Why the Loss of Honeybees Should Concern Us All

I count myself incredibly lucky that my hives have stayed healthy this year. But reading the recent headlines has been sobering. Reports from CBS News and The Guardian reveal that honeybee colony losses across the U.S. have hit record highs, with some beekeepers losing over 70% of their hives during the past year.

This isn't just a problem for those of us who keep bees. Honeybees are responsible for pollinating about one-third of the food we eat, from fruits and vegetables to nuts and even coffee. Without healthy bee populations, the stability of our food supply is at serious risk, and with it, the health of ecosystems across the country.

The causes of these mass die-offs are complex, including parasites like the varroa mite, pesticide exposure, habitat loss, and environmental stresses like climate change. No single beekeeper or scientist can solve it alone. It will take collective effort.

How You Can Help Protect Honeybees

Even if you don't keep bees yourself, you can make a big difference in supporting their survival! Here are a few simple ways to help:

🌼 Plant Bee-Friendly Gardens

Grow pollinator-friendly plants like lavender, sunflowers, clover, and native wildflowers. Even small patches or container gardens can offer vital food sources for bees.

🌱 Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides

Many common lawn and garden chemicals are harmful to bees. Choose natural alternatives when managing pests and weeds — or simply embrace a slightly wilder, more natural yard.

🌸 Let Dandelions Bloom

Dandelions are one of the first early-spring food sources for bees. Instead of spraying or mowing them down immediately, consider letting them flower to help local pollinators.

🏡 Provide Bee Habitat

Leave small areas of bare soil (ground-nesting bees need them!) and install bee hotels to give solitary bees a safe place to live.

🛒 Support Local Beekeepers (Like us!)

When you buy raw, local honey from small beekeepers like SlowGold Honey, you're helping sustain those who are working hard to maintain healthy hives.

As someone who tends to bees every day, I see firsthand how vital, and how vulnerable, they really are. Honeybees aren't just producers of sweet golden honey; they're silent workers behind the bounty on our plates.

Protecting them isn't just an environmental issue, it's a food security issue, a biodiversity issue, and a human issue.

Every small action counts!

-John