Kansas Loses 10 Percent of Honey Bee Colony Operations

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in Kansas as of January 1, 2022 totaled 5,000 according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The number of colonies in Kansas on April 1, 2022 was 4,600. During 2021, honey bee colonies on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 were 5,000, 7,500, 9,000, and 8,000, respectively.

Honey bee colonies lost for operations with five or more colonies, during the quarter of January-March 2022, was 520 colonies or 10% lost. During the quarter of April-June 2022, 650 colonies or 13% of colonies were lost. The 2021 October-December quarter showed the highest number of lost honey bee colonies of any quarter in 2021, at 2,100, or 26%. The quarter in 2021 with the lowest number of colonies lost was January-March, with 1,400 colonies lost, or 18%.

Honey bee colonies added for operations with five or more colonies, during the quarter of January-March 2022, was 140 colonies. The number of colonies added during the April-June 2022 quarter was 6,000. The quarter of April-June 2021 added 4,800 colonies, the highest number of honey bee colonies added for any quarter in 2021. The quarter of October-December 2021, at 140 added, showed the lowest number of honey bee colonies added for any quarter in 2021.

Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with five or more colonies, during the quarter of January-March 2022, was 60 colonies. The number of colonies renovated during the quarter of April-June 2022 was 580. During April-June 2021, 1,600 colonies were renovated, the highest number of colonies renovated during 2021. The lowest number of honey bee colonies renovated for any quarter in 2021, at 10, occurred during January-March 2021. Renovated colonies are those that were requeened or received new honey bees through a nuc or package.

Varroa mites were the number one stressor for operations with five or more colonies during all quarters of 2021. The quarter of July-September 2021 showed the highest percentage of varroa mites in 2021, at 66.8%. The percent of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites during January-March 2022, and April-June 2022 were 37.8% and 41.6%, respectively.