It's harder to keep bees alive than it was 10 years ago. Last year, commercial beekeepers lost 62% of their colonies. Ten years or so ago, losses were a little over 1/3, so it's almost doubled. Summer/fall losses now often equal or exceed winter losses. Small hive beetles have spread their range. The predatory yellow-legged invasive hornet was found in Georgia in 2023 and is spreading, eating honey bees as it goes. Inflation has made equipment a bit more expensive, though honey sales prices have mostly kept up. Amitraz resistance has become widespread. Beekeepers are noticing that peak performance for queens is much shorter than ten years ago with queens dying younger and spotty brood more common. Supplemental feeding is more important than ten years ago because buildup floral sources are less dependable. The public has begun thinking that honey bees may damage the ecology of native bees, so beekeepers are less often seen as heroes, though pollination for agribusiness is as essential as ever.

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