**”Crisis Looms as Honeybee Numbers Plummet, Threatening Food Prices”**
Beekeepers nationwide are raising the alarm as a dire honeybee situation unfolds, resulting in what is described as a “catastrophic” decline in honeybee populations within a span of less than a year. Between June 2024 and March 2025, beekeepers suffered a devastating loss of 62% of their honeybee colonies, amounting to an estimated 1.6 million colonies, as per a survey by Project Apis m., a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting beekeepers and advancing beekeeping science.
Patty Sundberg, President of the American Beekeeping Federation, expressed grave concern, stating, “Beekeeping operations are encountering unparalleled challenges that jeopardize their very existence due to colony losses of a magnitude not witnessed in nearly two decades.”
The decline in honeybee numbers has resulted in an approximate $600 million loss in honey production. While beekeepers typically expect some losses annually, the scale of this season’s losses may prove insurmountable for many businesses.
One beekeeper shared their distress in the survey, revealing, “We resorted to borrowing against our home, retirement funds, and from family members to sustain our operations. However, now that those bees are no more, the repercussions are severe. This is the harsh reality of consecutive losses on a farm. Despite taking substantial losses two years ago, we leveraged our long-term investments to reinvest in bees. We tended to our bees diligently, prioritizing their well-being, sought assistance, and adhered to best practices. Yet, faced with recurring losses, recovery seems unattainable. Everything is lost. The equity in our home, retirement savings, family funds—all depleted. All that remains are empty hives. Even the deceased bees are absent.”
The issue extends beyond beekeepers and impacts consumers as well. Project Apis m. underscores that honeybees play a crucial role in pollinating 75% of crops, such as almonds, apples, blueberries, melons, and pumpkins. Consequently, the shortage of honeybees could lead to scarcity and increased prices of produce in supermarkets.
The cause behind the widespread and “unexpected” bee deaths remains uncertain. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are investigating potential factors like pathogens, parasites, and nutritional deficiencies, while Cornell University is examining environmental variables, including the effects of extreme weather patterns and climate change on colony health.
