Honey Bee Colonies May 12, 2016 · Honey Bee Colonies May 12, 2016 Executive Briefing United States Department of Agriculture ... quarterly panel Operations with less than five colonies,

Honey Bee Colonies

May 12, 2016

Executive Briefing

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Background – NASS Honey Bee Surveys

Surveys Content

Honey

Maximum number of honey producing colonies during the

year, yield, production, stocks, and price by State and United

States.

Cost of Pollination

Cost of honey bees pollinating crops by State and United

States.

Honey Bee Colonies

Honey bee colonies held on first of the quarter, maximum

number of colonies, loss of colonies, renovated, and newly

added colonies by State. Colony loss percentage by State and

United States. Colony health stressors and loss percentages by

State and United States. Colonies reported lost with Colony

Collapse Disorder symptoms for the United States.

May 12, 2016Page 2

Background – Honey Bee Colonies

Questionnaire Development

Honey producers, commercial pollinators, and hobbyist beekeepers were interviewed.

1) Data needs

2) Data collection approach and methods

Draft questionnaires were provided to universities, honey bee researchers, and other USDA

agencies for review.

Draft questionnaire was posted on the internet by Office of Management and Budget for

public review on March 6, 2015 .

May 12, 2016Page 3

Honey Bee Colonies

Survey Overview

Population NASS list frame and qualify as a farm

Two samples

Operations with five or more colonies, sampled from the

Bee and Honey Survey, quarterly panel

Operations with less than five colonies, sampled from the

NASS List Frame

Sample size3,300 operations with five or more colonies

20,000 operations with less than five colonies

Collection methods Mail, Telephone, Internet, Face-to-Face Interview

Primary data items

Honey bee colonies held on first of quarter, colony loss,

renovated, and newly added colonies by State and United

States. Colonies affected by stressors by State and United

States. Colonies lost with Colony Collapse Disorder for the

United States.

May 12, 2016Page 4

Honey Bee Colonies

Terms and Definitions

Lost

A completely failed colony, loss of most workers, and

possibly the queen. Colony is no longer viable. Sometimes

referred to as a dead out.

RenovatedAn existing colony that was requeened or received a nuc or

package.

Maximum colonies

Refers to the sum of colonies in a state on the first of the

quarter plus all those moved into the state during that

period.

May 12, 2016

Page 5

Honey Bee ColoniesOperations with Five or More Colonies

May 12, 2016

Item

Jan 1, 2015(000)

April 1, 2015(000)

July 1, 2015(000)

Oct 1, 2015(000)

Jan 1, 2016(000)

Colonies 2,825 2,850 3,133 2,875 2,595

During the Quarter

Item Jan – Mar(000)

Apr – Jun(000)

Jul – Sep(000)

Oct – Dec(000)

Jan – Mar(000)

Lost 500 353 457 412 429

Renovated 271 693 303 159 158

Added 547 662 173 117 378

Page 6

Honey Bee Colonies by QuarterOperations with Five or More Colonies

1st of Quarter Colonies, Lost, and Renovated During Quarter

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

Jan, 2015 Apr Jul Oct Jan, 2016

Thousa

nd c

olo

nie

s

Colonies on 1st Renovated during Quarter Lost during Quarter

May 12, 2016Page 7


Quarter Lost(percent)

Renovated(percent)

January-March 2015 18 10

April-June 2015 12 24

July-September 2015 15 10

October-December 2015 14 6

January-March 2016 17 6

May 12, 2016Page 8


January 1, 2016 as percent of January 1, 2015

May 12, 2016Page 9

Percent Change DECREASE NC INCREASE

7

-14108

-21 71

-31

-20

-4

43

11

17 -28

32

2-7

33

-29

-13

3

52

32

-29

-4

82

542

-14

15

-23

44

-11

-37

-9

-11

-3

United States: -8%

-40

-5

26

100

NC

-19

50

38

33

-51

Pollinator Movement of Honey Bee ColoniesBackground Information

March 25, 2016Page 10

Maximum Number of Honey Bee ColoniesOperations with Five or More Colonies

January - March 2015

May 12, 2016Page 11

Maximum Number of Honey Bee Colonies 0 - 19,999 20,000 - 39,9999 40,000 - 59,999 60,000 - 79,999

80,00 - 99,999 100,000 - 499,999 1,000,000 +


April - June 2015

May 12, 2016Page 12


80,00 - 99,999 100,000 - 499,999 1,000,000 +


July - September 2015

May 12, 2016Page 13


80,00 - 99,999 100,000 - 499,999 500,000 - 999,999


October - December 2015

May 12, 2016Page 14


80,00 - 99,999 100,000 - 499,999 1,000,000 +



May 12, 2016Page 15


80,00 - 99,999 100,000 - 499,999 1,000,000 +

Percent of Honey Bee Colonies LostOperations with Five or More Colonies


May 12, 2016Page 16

Honey Bee Colonies Percent Lost 0 - 5 6 - 10 11 - 15 16 - 20

21 - 25 26 - 30 31 - 35 36 +

26

1311

15 12

22

13

14

4

4

40 22

18

2339

16

6

41

22

19

5

11

15

6

812

10

22

27

1

48

23

8

31

15

United States: 18%United States: 18%

5

21

10

14

13

28

13

30

28

17


12

1714

10 8

3

16

19

1

9

14 10

6

1012

4

11

3

2

11

10

12

4

2

610

12

3

8

6

11

8

6

8

5


7

10

11

13

2

4

4

12

7

13


April - June 2015

May 12, 2016Page 17

Honey Bee Colonies Percent Lost 0 - 5 6 - 10 11 - 15

16 - 20 21 - 25 26 - 30

16

1530

10 15

1

16

12

19

11

10 11

8

1113

4

8

9

8

8

24

10

9

7

81

25

14

12

19

8

1

9

7

17


18

12

12

22

1

9

12

4

15

7


July - September 2015

May 12, 2016Page 18

Honey Bee Colonies Percent Lost 0 - 5 6 - 10 11 - 15 31 - 35 36 +

8

319

12 10

7

14

15

5

15

5 10

12

4013

7

1

8

6

12

10

4

5

8

103

5

9

10

13

13

7

8

11

13


4

11

10

7

15

10

7

9

14

5


October - December 2015

May 12, 2016Page 19



May 12, 2016Page 20


21 - 25 26 - 30 36 +

23

1619

15 8

10

17

20

2

7

17 12

19

2119

14

5

22

12

14

15

8

10

2

212

26

13

10

10

26

48

3

23

21


1

19

10

14

8

17

10

23

13

7

Honey Bee Colonies on 1st

Quarter Operations with Five

or More Colonies

Operations with Less

than Five Colonies

January 1, 2015 2,824,610 50,000

April 1, 2015 2,849,500 43,000

July 1, 2015 3,132,880 52,000

October1, 2015 2,874,760 49,000

January 1, 2016 2,594,590 Not available

May 12, 2016Page 21

Honey Bee Colonies Affected by StressorsBy Size of Operation

May 12, 2016

Less than

5 Colonies

Five or More Colonies

During the Quarter

2015 2015 2016

Item Annual(percent)

Jan – Mar(percent)

Apr – Jun(percent)

Jul – Sep(percent)

Oct – Dec(percent)

Jan – Mar(percent)

Varroa

mites

19.8 25.2 43.4 41.2 37.0 34.3

Other pests

& parasites

12.5 8.6 19.5 17.6 11.4 12.6

Diseases 2.2 3.1 4.9 8.0 5.2 6.2

Pesticides 4.9 7.4 16.6 15.2 9.5 10.5

Other 15.5 6.9 11.6 8.8 7.3 7.0

Unknown 20.8 4.3 3.5 4.8 6.9 5.4

Page 22

Honey Bee Colonies LostWith Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms

By Size of Operation

May 12, 2016

Less than

5 Colonies

Five or More Colonies

During the Quarter

2015 2015 2016

Item Annual(number)

Jan – Mar(number)

Apr – Jun(number)

Jul – Sep(number)

Oct – Dec(number)

Jan – Mar(number)

Lost 7,000 92,250 56,760 88,390 87,610 113,930

CCD Criteria: 1) Little to no build-up of dead bees in the hive or at the hive

entrance.

2) Rapid loss of adult honey bee population despite the

presence of queen, capped brood, and food reserves.

3) Absence or delayed robbing of food reserves.

4) Loss not attributable to varroa or nosema loads.

Page 23

Upcoming NASS Reports

Release Date Report Title

May 19 Milk Production

May 20 Cattle on Feed

May 31 Agricultural Prices

June 10 Crop Production

June 21 Milk Production

June 24 Cattle on Feed

Quarterly Hogs and Pigs

June 29 Agricultural Prices

May 12, 2016Page 24

All Reports Available At

www.nass.usda.gov

For Questions

(202) 720-3570

(800) 727-9540

[email protected]

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

May 12, 2016

Documents

Honey Bee Colonies May 12, 2016 · Honey Bee Colonies May 12, 2016 Executive Briefing United States Department of Agriculture ... quarterly panel Operations with less than five colonies,