Honey bee population up in 2017
The bees are back.
Honey bee colony operations have seen a 23 percent increase between January 2016 and January 2017.
Honey bee operations with five or more colonies in Virginia as of Jan. 1, 2017 totaled 8,000 compared to 6,500 the previous year. Surveys were done by the Virginia Field Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service to gather the information.
Honey bee colony populations:
April 1, 2016 — 6,000
July 1, 2016 — 8,000
Oct. 1, 2016 — 7,000
April 1, 2017 — 8,500
But, there was a higher number of loss in the first quarter of 2017 — 18 percent. Although the overall numbers were up, that was due to more honey bee colonies being added.
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, honey bee colony operations with five or more colonies that were lost from January to March 2017, were 1,400 colonies, the highest honey bee colonies loss of the six quarters. The quarter of April to June 2016, at 230 colonies or 4 percent, showed the least amount of lost honey bee colonies.
Honey bee colonies added for operations with five or more colonies during January to March 2017 were 1,900 colonies. From April to June 2017 3,100 colonies were added, the highest number of honey bee colonies added of the six quarters, a release said.
From October to December 2016 was the lowest number of honey bee colonies added — 230 colonies.
Many colonies saw renovations in the first quarter. Renovated colonies are those that were re-queened or received new honey bees through nuc or package, the release said.
Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with five or more colonies from January to March 2017 were 280, a release said.
The lowest number of honey bee colonies renovated of the six quarters was October to December 2016 with just 10 colonies. The number of colonies added during the quarter of April to June 2017 was 1,100, the highest number of honey bee colonies renovated, a release said.
Varroa mites did add some stress to a number of colonies surveyed. The mites were the number one stressor for operations with five or more colonies during each of the quarters surveyed, the release said.
Varroa mite population:
- January to March 2017 — 21.4 percent
- April to June 2017 — 19.8 percent
- July to September 2016 — 39.1 percent
In the past
Honey production declined in 2016 thanks to freezing temperatures last year.
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2016 honey production from producers with five or more colonies totaled 190,000 pounds, which is down 17 percent (or 38,000 pounds) from 2015.
More than 32 percent of honey bee colonies were reported lost by beekeepers in Virginia during the winter of 2015 to 2016, Tignor said.
Remember last winter when it got super warm around Christmas and everything started blooming, then we saw super freezing temperatures later on? That wasn't good for bees and other pollinators.
The value of Virginia honey production in 2016 was $1.1 million, down 12 percent from 2015, a release said. Honey was harvested from 5,000 colonies and the yield of honey harvested per colony averaged 38 pounds, which was equal to the yield in 2015, the release said. But, producer honey stocks were 30,000 pounds last December, down 40 percent from 2015.
Why are bees important?
Honey bees pollinate crops, thus serving as an integral part of the agricultural industry. Plus, the pollination process also gives you honey.
Virginia crops such as apples, pumpkins, cucumbers, squash and blueberries are dependent on pollinators to fully develop their fruits, a release said. Production of other crops like soybeans, sunflowers and peanuts receive benefit from pollination by honey bees and other insect pollinators.
Want to help the bees?
- Plant a pollinator garden with multiple nectar and pollen sources.
- Build a nesting site for native bees.
- Become a beekeeper. Beginner classes are sponsored by a number of local beekeeper groups around the state. Contact the Virginia State Beekeepers Association or locally with the Shenandoah Valley Beekeepers Association. Or contact Valley Bee Supply in Fishersville at 540-941-8127.