Utah Bee Population Down

Possible Link to Colony Collapse Disorder
By: Danielle Downey
Plant Industry Compliance Specialist

Utah has over 300 registered beekeepers, and some of the largest beekeeping operations have seen heavy losses this spring.

Beginning September 2006, beekeepers throughout the US have been suffering unusually high losses with symptoms that do not match known honeybee pathology. Since then, beekeepers and researchers at USDA and University laboratories have been investigating several possible causes of these losses, which has been named Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Leading theories include new viruses or parasites, nutrition problems, genetic inbreeding, pesticide effects, stress due to migratory beekeeping, and various combinations of these factors. Work continues, but there is still no clear answer. Until this spring, Utah’s commercial beekeepers did not see these severe losses.

The UDAF is participating in a survey of bee populations as part of the effort to better understand what causes CCD. The UDAF collected information from Utah beekeepers such as specific handling practices and where the hives were transported to and from for crop pollination. That information is being shared with U.S. Department of Agriculture investigators who are working to find a cause for CCD.

Most commercial beekeepers in the US earn their living by moving bees to California to rent them for spring pollination, primarily in almond orchards. When they arrived from Utah, there were an unusually high number of colonies which died during winter. This costs beekeepers the $150 rent per colony for pollination contracts, and also set their operations back needing to replace bees—which are much more scarce with the industry’s widespread losses. Growers, too, are having difficulty renting enough bees for pollination. Almonds require 2-3 bee colonies per acre. The number of almond acres is increasing because of the crops popularity, unfortunately, the number of bee colonies needed for adequate pollination is decreasing.

In addition to almonds, honeybee colonies pollinate the bulk of alfalfa, apples, stone fruits, avocados, blueberries, cranberries, kiwi fruit, pears, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, onions, squash, sunflowers, citrus, strawberries, melons, cotton, canola, and soybeans.

Honey bees’ ability to pollinate a wide variety of food crops makes them a vital link for successful agriculture and food security.

More information about Colony Collapse Disorder.

Hear recorded comments from Danielle Downey

Posted April 21, 2008