Bees in Peril: Nearly Half of Georgia Colonies Wiped Out
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By Leslie Kulwik
One of the most important parts of human existence is slowly disappearing across the U.S. A new study by BestMadHoney has revealed the states where bees are vanishing fastest – and the results paint a bleak picture for American pollinators.
The analysis, based on data from the Apiary Inspectors of America, shows Wisconsin facing the steepest losses – but the crisis doesn’t stop there. From the Midwest to the coasts, bee colonies are collapsing, raising urgent questions about the future of U.S. food production.
“People often forget just how much of our food depends on bees,” said Sanjay Kalfe, CEO and Founder of BestMadHoney. “It’s not just fruit and vegetables – dairy and meat are tied to pollination too, because bees help grow the crops that feed livestock. When losses climb this high, it’s more than a challenge for beekeepers – it’s a warning sign that our food systems themselves are under strain. 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, Wisconsin – 91%, Nevada 86%, Nebraska -82%, Iowa – 82%, we’re witnessing a genuine crisis that threatens not only honey production, but the stability of our entire food system. “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. “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.”
I recently spoke with an owner of a honey business who used to have a beekeeping business. He wanted to remain anonymous but had this to say: ”Most beekeepers lease land off of paper companies, especially in Southern Georgia. These paper companies spray their land – and I’m talking hundreds of thousands of acres are sprayed at a time. If you say anything to these paper companies, they kick you off their land. We pay a lot to be there too.”
“More education also needs done for farmers, land owners and companies that spray. It’s a double edge sword, Farmers have to spray to keep the bugs down but it’s bad for the bees. We have to have bees. I’m worried for the future of bees. It takes around 2 million flowers to make 1 pound of honey. If the bees aren’t getting a good, clean pollen source – they won’t survive.”
Jackie Norton of Red Dawg Honey Ranch in Folkston stated, “We had our hives inspected by the state on June 16, and they were in perfect condition at that time. On July 22, our local power company sprayed herbicides along Little Pheobe Road and Old River Road. Just a day or two earlier, they had also sprayed along Highway 1. Herbicides can disorient bees, causing them to never return to the hive—or, if they do make it back, they carry the chemicals inside. Once the bees detect a problem, they abandon the hive. As a result, I’ve lost 22 of my 47 hives. That’s almost 47%.”
Nicholas E. Sumner from the Georgia Agriculture added, “protecting pollinators is an important issue here in Georgia, not only for beekeepers but for farmers and consumers as well, since so much of our food supply depends on pollination. One of the things we have been encouraging is the use of free, voluntary tools like DriftWatch and BeeCheck, which help applicators and beekeepers communicate better. When applicators know where hives are located, and beekeepers know when and where spraying is planned, it can go a long way toward preventing losses.”
