Beekeepers are scrambling to recover from the deadliest winter for U.S. honeybee colonies on record, as federal research delays and funding shortfalls stall critical investigations into the cause.
Joanna Thompson reports for The Atlantic.
In short:
- From June 2024 to February 2025, more than 60% of U.S. commercial honeybee colonies died, disrupting the annual almond pollination season and threatening broader agricultural stability.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), traditionally responsible for investigating bee die-offs, was unable to complete timely research due to funding cuts and mass layoffs, forcing it to outsource pesticide testing to Cornell University.
- Beekeepers are still waiting on both scientific findings and federal aid, making it nearly impossible to restock hives before the summer growing season begins.
Key quote:
“We’re seeing a lot of commercial beekeepers quitting the field.”
— Nathalie Steinhauer, an entomologist at Oregon State University
Why this matters:
Honeybees are indispensable to American agriculture. They pollinate more than 90 commercial crops, from almonds and apples to cucumbers and pumpkins. Without them, yields drop and food prices climb. Commercial beekeepers — often small, family-run operations — already endure massive annual losses. But this past winter’s 62% colony death rate was unprecedented, and with federal research labs gutted by staff layoffs and budget cuts, answers aren’t coming fast enough. The USDA’s honeybee labs have long been a key defense against these collapses, swiftly identifying pathogens, parasites, and environmental threats. When those labs go silent, beekeepers lose vital time needed to rebuild before planting seasons kick off. Even modest declines in bee populations ripple across the economy and environment, reducing crop availability, increasing imports, and risking long-term soil and ecosystem health.
Learn more: Beekeepers struggle with unexplained mass honey bee losses
