Honey Bee Colonies - Publication

Honey Bee Colonies
ISSN: 2470-993X

Released August 1, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

January 1 Honey Bee colonies Down 7 Percent for Operations with Five or More colonies
Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in the United States on January 1, 2023 totaled
2.68 million colonies, down 7 percent from January 1, 2022. The number of colonies in the United States on
April 1, 2023, was 2.71 million colonies. During 2022, honey bee colonies on January 1, April 1, July 1, and
October 1 were 2.88 million, 2.91 million, 3.11 million, and 2.89 million colonies, respectively.
Honey bee colonies lost for operations with five or more colonies from January through March 2023, was
373,880 colonies, or 14 percent. The number of colonies lost during the quarter of April through June 2023, was
237,350 colonies, or 9 percent. During the quarter of April through June 2022, colonies lost totaled 363,570 colonies, or
13 percent, the highest number lost of any quarter surveyed in 2022. The quarter surveyed in 2022 with the lowest number
of colonies lost was January through March, with 331,480 colonies lost, or 12 percent.
Honey bee colonies added for operations with five or more colonies from January through March 2023 was
384,790 colonies. The number of colonies added during the quarter of April through June 2023 was 596,360. During the
quarter of April through June 2022, the number of colonies added were 573,160 colonies, the highest number of honey
bee colonies added for any quarter surveyed in 2022. The quarter of July through September 2022 added
152,640 colonies, the least number of honey bee colonies added for any quarter surveyed in 2022.
Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with five or more colonies from January through March 2023 was
113,440 colonies, or 4 percent. During the quarter of April through June 2023, the number of colonies renovated were
478,440 colonies, or 18 percent. The quarter surveyed in 2022 with the highest number of colonies renovated was April
through June 2022 with 494,890 colonies renovated, or 17 percent. The quarter surveyed in 2022 with the lowest number
of colonies renovated was October through December 2022, with 147,950, or 5 percent. Renovated colonies are those that
were requeened or received new honey bees through a nucleus (nuc) colony or package.

Varroa Mites Top Colony Stressor for Operations with Five or More colonies
Varroa mites were the number one stressor for operations with five or more colonies during all quarters surveyed in
2022. The period with the highest percentage of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites was April through June
2022 at 47.5 percent. The percent of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites during January through
March 2023 and April through June 2023 are 39.7 percent and 50.9 percent, respectively.

Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms Up 25 Percent for Operations with Five or
More colonies
Honey bee colonies lost with Colony Collapse Disorder symptoms on operations with five or more colonies was
107,630 colonies from January through March 2023. This represents a 25 percent increase from the same quarter in 2022.

Contents
Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More Colonies
– States and United States: January 1, 2022 and January-March 2022 ................................................................................ 3
Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More Colonies
– States and United States: April 1, 2022 and April-June 2022 .......................................................................................... 4
Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More Colonies
– States and United States: July 1, 2022 and July-September 2022 ..................................................................................... 5
Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More Colonies
– States and United States: October 1, 2022 and October-December 2022 ......................................................................... 6
Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More Colonies
– States and United States: January 1, 2023 and January-March 2023 ................................................................................ 7
Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More Colonies
– States and United States: April 1, 2023 and April-June 2023 ........................................................................................... 8
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January-March 2022.............................. 9
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April-June 2022 ...................................10
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: July-September 2022 ............................11
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: October-December 2022 ......................12
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January-March 2023.............................13
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April-June 2023....................................14
Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms with Five or More Colonies – United States:
2022 and 2023 ...................................................................................................................................................................15
Terms and Definitions of Honey Bee Colony Estimates ....................................................................................................16
Statistical Methodology .....................................................................................................................................................17
Information Contacts .........................................................................................................................................................18

2

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: January 1, 2022 and January-March 2022
State

January 1
colonies
(number)

January-March
Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ....................
Arizona ......................
Arkansas ...................
California ...................
Colorado ...................
Connecticut ...............
Florida .......................
Georgia .....................
Idaho .........................

7,500
25,000
18,500
1,060,000
3,800
3,500
295,000
118,000
194,000

11,500
32,000
21,000
1,520,000
8,500
4,500
295,000
119,000
215,000

1,100
2,300
2,600
162,000
540
420
24,000
14,000
8,000

10
7
12
11
6
9
8
12
4

1,600
720
780
139,000
10
50,000
26,000
7,500

520
10
20
95,000
10
170
13,500
18,000
1,000

5
(Z)
(Z)
6
(Z)
4
5
15
(Z)

Illinois ........................
Indiana ......................
Iowa ...........................
Kansas ......................
Kentucky ...................
Louisiana ...................
Maine ........................
Maryland ...................
Massachusetts ..........
Michigan ....................

11,500
9,500
26,000
4,000
8,500
35,000
3,100
6,500
6,000
66,000

11,500
9,500
29,000
5,000
9,500
37,000
8,000
8,500
6,000
71,000

2,200
2,900
2,800
520
1,300
6,000
340
1,900
950
4,500

19
31
10
10
14
16
4
22
16
6

900
1,300
610
240
50
11,000
1,100
350
1,400

140
30
30
60
160
2,200
120
1,000
510
2,500

1
(Z)
(Z)
1
2
6
2
12
9
4

Minnesota .................
Mississippi .................
Missouri .....................
Montana ....................
Nebraska ...................
New Jersey ...............
New Mexico ..............
New York ..................
North Carolina ..........
North Dakota .............

78,000
20,000
4,800
45,000
24,000
11,500
5,500
44,000
20,000
75,000

97,000
37,000
11,000
54,000
30,000
15,000
8,000
44,000
24,000
89,000

1,500
3,400
730
300
840
550
1,900
5,500
2,300
120

2
9
7
1
3
4
24
13
10
(Z)

4,800
12,000
310
30
30
1,500
1,000
370
3,100
300

80
2,300
570
30
730
520
-

(Z)
6
5
(Z)
2
2
-

Ohio ...........................
Oklahoma ..................
Oregon ......................
Pennsylvania ............
South Carolina ..........
South Dakota ............
Tennessee ................
Texas ........................
Utah ...........................
Vermont ....................

16,000
20,000
85,000
20,000
17,000
21,000
10,500
270,000
28,000
7,000

16,000
20,000
96,000
23,000
20,000
28,000
10,500
400,000
32,000
7,500

2,400
3,000
5,000
2,800
2,500
1,000
2,300
37,000
4,100
380

15
15
5
12
13
4
22
9
13
5

1,600
50
2,400
2,500
4,500
40
1,300
80,000
4,600
250

530
3,500
310
360
830
200
34,000
740
-

3
18
(Z)
2
4
2
9
2
-

Virginia ......................
Washington ...............
West Virginia .............
Wisconsin ..................
Wyoming ...................

7,500
70,000
4,600
39,000
6,000

9,500
102,000
5,000
53,000
8,000

1,700
7,500
1,000
2,800
180

18
7
20
5
2

1,100
1,400
1,000
1,400
20

200
6,000
200
240
-

2
6
4
(Z)
-

Other States 5 ...........

24,870

30,870

2,310

7

620

1,060

3

United States ............

2,875,670

(X)

331,480

12

368,780

187,380

7

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
January 1 colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the January 1 colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the January 1 colonies.
5
Includes data for States not published in this table.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: April 1, 2022 and April-June 2022
State

April 1
colonies
(number)

April-June
Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ....................
Arizona ......................
Arkansas ...................
California ...................
Colorado ....................
Connecticut ...............
Florida ........................
Georgia ......................
Idaho ..........................

12,000
31,000
19,000
980,000
8,000
4,100
295,000
128,000
103,000

12,000
32,000
23,000
1,040,000
19,500
4,100
310,000
131,000
111,000

1,500
4,300
3,200
107,000
1,400
30
46,000
26,000
19,000

13
13
14
10
7
1
15
20
17

4,600
17,500
6,500
152,000
8,000
230
56,000
27,000
35,000

1,900
2,800
1,200
120,000
2,300
30
44,000
47,000
8,500

16
9
5
12
12
1
14
36
8

Illinois .........................
Indiana .......................
Iowa ...........................
Kansas ......................
Kentucky ....................
Louisiana ...................
Maine .........................
Maryland ....................
Massachusetts ..........
Michigan ....................

9,000
8,000
27,000
4,800
7,500
42,000
7,500
7,500
5,500
69,000

9,500
10,000
49,000
4,900
10,500
42,000
19,500
8,500
10,500
88,000

1,100
1,600
2,300
720
610
1,900
890
390
270
3,200

12
16
5
15
6
5
5
5
3
4

4,300
5,500
5,000
5,500
3,600
9,500
1,300
1,600
1,200
13,000

2,100
620
2,400
580
460
11,500
300
1,100
890
3,500

22
6
5
12
4
27
2
13
8
4

Minnesota ..................
Mississippi .................
Missouri .....................
Montana ....................
Nebraska ...................
New Jersey ...............
New Mexico ...............
New York ...................
North Carolina ...........
North Dakota .............

102,000
46,000
10,500
41,000
19,000
16,000
7,000
35,000
25,000
77,000

110,000
47,000
10,500
106,000
46,000
19,000
7,000
57,000
30,000
495,000

1,500
9,000
1,500
960
2,400
140
1,600
2,000
1,200
17,000

1
19
14
1
5
1
23
4
4
3

6,000
15,500
6,000
6,000
11,000
2,600
4,200
6,000
7,500
15,000

2,000
7,000
4,800
8,000
5,000
70
2,200
4,300
3,300
8,500

2
15
46
8
11
(Z)
31
8
11
2

Ohio ...........................
Oklahoma ..................
Oregon ......................
Pennsylvania .............
South Carolina ..........
South Dakota ............
Tennessee ................
Texas .........................
Utah ...........................
Vermont .....................

15,500
12,500
94,000
23,000
22,000
13,500
9,500
345,000
23,000
7,500

15,500
20,000
96,000
24,000
23,000
177,000
11,500
415,000
29,000
8,500

400
10,000
13,000
730
2,500
4,200
4,400
46,000
4,600
150

3
50
14
3
11
2
38
11
16
2

4,400
10,500
12,500
7,000
3,500
2,000
9,000
42,000
8,500
3,300

1,200
2,100
19,500
2,300
3,200
19,000
1,200
113,000
5,000
160

8
11
20
10
14
11
10
27
17
2

Virginia ......................
Washington ...............
West Virginia .............
Wisconsin ..................
Wyoming ...................

9,000
97,000
5,000
52,000
8,000

10,500
109,000
7,500
62,000
26,000

580
14,000
260
1,600
1,900

6
13
3
3
7

2,900
12,500
2,400
7,000
4,900

680
23,000
2,600
1,300
1,800

6
21
35
2
7

Other States 5 ............

26,390

32,390

540

2

3,630

2,500

8

United States ............

2,909,290

(X)

363,570

13

573,160

494,890

17

(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
April 1 colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the April 1 colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the April 1 colonies.
5
Includes data for States not published in this table.

4

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: July 1, 2022 and July-September 2022
State

July 1
colonies
(number)

July-September
Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
Renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ....................
Arizona ......................
Arkansas ...................
California ...................
Colorado ...................
Connecticut ...............
Florida .......................
Georgia .....................
Idaho .........................

14,000
25,000
26,000
590,000
21,000
4,300
245,000
118,000
104,000

14,000
25,000
26,000
660,000
24,000
4,300
285,000
118,000
112,000

1,900
1,900
4,400
24,000
2,800
90
58,000
23,000
9,500

14
8
17
4
12
2
20
19
8

870
2,900
2,100
11,000
5,000
80
38,000
18,500
3,500

2,000
2,100
370
57,000
120
180
29,000
39,000
12,000

14
8
1
9
1
4
10
33
11

Illinois ........................
Indiana ......................
Iowa ...........................
Kansas ......................
Kentucky ...................
Louisiana ...................
Maine ........................
Maryland ...................
Massachusetts ..........
Michigan ....................

12,500
14,000
52,000
7,000
13,500
41,000
11,000
4,500
9,000
98,000

12,500
14,000
53,000
7,000
13,500
55,000
11,000
4,800
9,000
98,000

1,100
650
650
1,000
820
4,500
6,500
510
400
15,500

9
5
1
14
6
8
59
11
4
16

730
370
590
370
980
4,900
310
600
350
8,000

770
1,300
830
140
1,400
3,100
350
1,300
610
5,500

6
9
2
2
10
6
3
27
7
6

Minnesota .................
Mississippi .................
Missouri .....................
Montana ....................
Nebraska ...................
New Jersey ...............
New Mexico ..............
New York ..................
North Carolina ..........
North Dakota .............

105,000
20,000
8,500
105,000
51,000
21,000
8,500
61,000
31,000
495,000

106,000
21,000
8,500
124,000
51,000
21,000
9,000
63,000
33,000
520,000

7,500
2,700
660
6,000
3,500
1,600
150
4,700
2,600
82,000

7
13
8
5
7
8
2
7
8
16

1,700
2,100
250
970
1,100
1,700
460
2,800
2,100
7,000

590
2,800
360
2,100
1,100
210
230
5,500
2,500
14,500

1
13
4
2
2
1
3
9
8
3

Ohio ...........................
Oklahoma ..................
Oregon ......................
Pennsylvania ............
South Carolina ..........
South Dakota ............
Tennessee ................
Texas ........................
Utah ...........................
Vermont ....................

19,000
2,100
82,000
28,000
15,500
178,000
9,500
194,000
32,000
10,000

19,000
2,100
97,000
30,000
15,500
194,000
10,500
205,000
32,000
10,000

1,100
120
10,500
1,600
2,500
22,000
1,600
8,500
4,200
240

6
6
11
5
16
11
15
4
13
2

900
300
2,600
1,600
760
250
1,300
11,500
2,600
910

1,500
90
6,500
1,200
700
2,500
400
4,400
2,600
1,800

8
4
7
4
5
1
4
2
8
18

Virginia ......................
Washington ...............
West Virginia .............
Wisconsin ..................
Wyoming ...................

12,000
81,000
8,000
58,000
29,000

12,000
84,000
8,000
58,000
30,000

1,000
3,000
360
14,000
3,900

8
4
5
24
13

850
2,800
520
4,400
1,100

1,100
1,100
660
8,000
2,300

9
1
8
14
8

Other States 5 ...........

33,430

33,930

630

2

920

910

3

United States ............

3,107,330

(X)

343,880

11

152,640

222,720

7

(X) Not applicable.
1
July 1 colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the July 1 colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the July 1 colonies.
5
Includes data for States not published in this table.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: October 1, 2022 and October-December 2022
State

October 1
colonies
(number)

October-December
Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ....................
Arizona ......................
Arkansas ...................
California ...................
Colorado ....................
Connecticut ...............
Florida ........................
Georgia ......................
Idaho ..........................

11,000
25,000
12,500
660,000
18,000
4,100
270,000
109,000
99,000

11,000
37,000
22,000
1,050,000
20,000
4,100
300,000
133,000
154,000

1,100
5,000
940
60,000
2,000
330
61,000
30,000
22,000

10
14
4
6
10
8
20
23
14

900
1,500
110
30,000
1,100
20
30,000
18,000
40,000

560
570
30
58,000
70
40
40,000
17,000
6,000

5
2
(Z)
6
(Z)
1
13
13
4

Illinois .........................
Indiana .......................
Iowa ...........................
Kansas ......................
Kentucky ....................
Louisiana ...................
Maine .........................
Maryland ....................
Massachusetts ..........
Michigan ....................

10,000
12,500
15,500
6,000
13,500
32,000
4,900
4,900
6,000
73,000

11,000
12,500
51,000
6,000
15,500
34,000
4,900
5,000
6,000
73,000

1,600
2,200
1,700
860
2,300
3,100
150
520
260
5,500

15
18
3
14
15
9
3
10
4
8

80
300
80
100
130
170
1,400
140
8,500

460
1,200
90
130
630
640
60
20
160
700

4
10
(Z)
2
4
2
1
(Z)
3
1

Minnesota ..................
Mississippi .................
Missouri .....................
Montana ....................
Nebraska ...................
New Jersey ...............
New Mexico ...............
New York ...................
North Carolina ...........
North Dakota .............

99,000
18,000
4,900
98,000
29,000
20,000
9,500
62,000
26,000
385,000

99,000
31,000
7,000
101,000
47,000
20,000
9,500
62,000
29,000
390,000

4,600
3,600
380
4,500
5,500
1,000
920
14,000
3,400
39,000

5
12
5
4
12
5
10
23
12
10

150
2,900
220
2,300
1,100
730
20
740
11,500

110
250
300
6,000
300
70
180
1,600
480
4,200

(Z)
1
4
6
1
(Z)
2
3
2
1

Ohio ...........................
Oklahoma ..................
Oregon ......................
Pennsylvania .............
South Carolina ..........
South Dakota ............
Tennessee ................
Texas .........................
Utah ...........................
Vermont .....................

17,500
2,300
83,000
30,000
12,500
175,000
8,500
210,000
25,000
10,000

17,500
16,500
83,000
30,000
15,500
175,000
10,500
260,000
26,000
10,000

920
180
15,000
3,500
1,700
27,000
1,400
7,500
1,800
370

5
1
18
12
11
15
13
3
7
4

700
10,000
250
500
20
1,700
720
990
400

1,200
110
1,100
910
10
620
2,200
250
-

7
(Z)
4
6
(Z)
6
1
1
-

Virginia ......................
Washington ...............
West Virginia .............
Wisconsin ..................
Wyoming ...................

9,000
84,000
7,500
26,000
19,500

10,500
89,000
8,000
47,000
21,000

1,300
7,500
1,100
3,500
3,200

12
8
14
7
15

300
540
140
640

750
220
220
380
-

7
(Z)
3
1
-

Other States 5 ............

30,030

30,030

480

2

1,190

130

(Z)

United States ............

2,888,130

(X)

353,910

12

170,280

147,950

5

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
October 1 colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the October 1 colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the October 1 colonies.
5
Includes data for States not published in this table.

6

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: January 1, 2023 and January-March 2023
State

January 1
colonies
(number)

January-March
Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ....................
Arizona ......................
Arkansas ...................
California ...................
Colorado ...................
Connecticut ...............
Florida .......................
Georgia .....................
Idaho .........................

11,000
34,000
21,000
1,040,000
7,500
3,600
270,000
121,000
165,000

14,000
34,000
23,000
1,330,000
10,000
4,000
305,000
121,000
167,000

1,400
510
2,200
196,000
520
360
34,000
13,000
12,500

10
2
10
15
5
9
11
11
7

2,000
290
1,200
88,000
500
480
51,000
18,500
4,000

880
80
10
48,000
70
18,500
8,000
8,000

6
(Z)
(Z)
4
(Z)
2
6
7
5

Illinois ........................
Indiana ......................
Iowa ...........................
Kansas ......................
Kentucky ...................
Louisiana ...................
Maine ........................
Maryland ...................
Massachusetts ..........
Michigan ....................

9,000
7,000
36,000
3,300
9,500
25,000
2,600
6,000
6,000
54,000

9,500
7,000
53,000
3,900
10,500
38,000
7,500
6,000
8,000
64,000

1,800
1,300
1,700
490
1,100
4,800
290
1,100
820
9,000

19
19
3
13
10
13
4
18
10
14

1,700
3,200
10,500
940
260
6,000
190
670
180
330

320
40
240
20
80
3,700
130
140
80
2,100

3
1
(Z)
1
1
10
2
2
1
3

Minnesota .................
Mississippi .................
Missouri .....................
Montana ....................
Nebraska ...................
New Jersey ...............
New Mexico ..............
New York ..................
North Carolina ..........
North Dakota .............

41,000
29,000
6,500
23,000
17,000
12,500
8,500
40,000
26,000
82,000

52,000
37,000
6,500
45,000
23,000
12,500
8,500
40,000
30,000
89,000

1,100
2,300
940
70
1,100
1,300
4,600
8,000
4,100
2,400

2
6
14
(Z)
5
10
54
20
14
3

4,000
65,000
3,900
6,000
3,100
460
560
2,200
2,700

1,600
4,100
100
110
760
510
2,800
1,000

3
11
2
(Z)
1
9
1
9
1

Ohio ...........................
Oklahoma ..................
Oregon ......................
Pennsylvania ............
South Carolina ..........
South Dakota ............
Tennessee ................
Texas ........................
Utah ...........................
Vermont ....................

17,500
16,500
77,000
27,000
14,500
53,000
11,000
171,000
19,000
10,000

19,500
17,000
87,000
28,000
16,500
58,000
11,500
300,000
24,000
10,000

2,500
1,600
8,000
4,800
1,700
2,200
1,800
20,000
2,600
400

13
9
9
17
10
4
16
7
11
4

1,200
10
11,500
1,800
2,700
2,800
62,000
900
30

160
500
490
800
40
8,500
360
40

1
1
2
5
(Z)
3
2
(Z)

Virginia ......................
Washington ...............
West Virginia .............
Wisconsin ..................
Wyoming ...................

9,500
65,000
5,000
27,000
10,500

10,500
81,000
6,000
29,000
15,000

1,200
13,500
600
3,300
150

11
17
10
11
1

470
19,000
40
1,400
1,500

150
250
40
270
-

1
(Z)
1
1
-

Other States 5 ...........

27,750

31,650

730

2

1,580

470

1

United States ............

2,678,250

(X)

373,880

14

384,790

113,440

4

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
January 1 colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the January 1 colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the January 1 colonies.
5
Includes data for States not published in this table.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: April 1, 2023 and April-June 2023
State

April 1
colonies
(number)

April-June
Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ....................
Arizona ......................
Arkansas ...................
California ...................
Colorado ....................
Connecticut ...............
Florida ........................
Georgia ......................
Idaho ..........................

14,500
34,000
22,000
900,000
10,000
4,200
260,000
128,000
82,000

15,500
34,000
24,000
930,000
33,000
4,200
295,000
131,000
132,000

2,000
8,500
1,900
52,000
1,100
230
40,000
21,000
7,000

13
25
8
6
3
5
14
16
5

4,200
4,900
6,000
131,000
4,500
690
56,000
25,000
22,000

3,800
2,400
2,200
112,000
1,500
800
23,000
42,000
11,000

25
7
9
12
5
19
8
32
8

Illinois .........................
Indiana .......................
Iowa ...........................
Kansas ......................
Kentucky ....................
Louisiana ...................
Maine .........................
Maryland ....................
Massachusetts ..........
Michigan ....................

9,500
9,000
63,000
2,600
8,500
39,000
7,500
5,500
7,500
46,000

9,500
9,500
69,000
3,500
9,000
39,000
15,500
9,000
10,500
72,000

530
320
4,600
340
550
2,800
1,000
580
1,500
4,200

6
3
7
10
6
7
6
6
14
6

3,300
4,100
11,500
1,500
960
4,700
510
690
1,300
9,000

700
1,500
2,700
360
450
9,000
1,100
730
510
2,300

7
16
4
10
5
23
7
8
5
3

Minnesota ..................
Mississippi .................
Missouri .....................
Montana ....................
Nebraska ...................
New Jersey ...............
New Mexico ...............
New York ...................
North Carolina ...........
North Dakota .............

56,000
73,000
9,500
51,000
11,000
14,000
4,300
31,000
28,000
62,000

76,000
74,000
9,500
97,000
28,000
16,500
4,300
52,000
28,000
395,000

2,600
3,200
390
4,500
1,200
720
230
1,800
2,300
7,000

3
4
4
5
4
4
5
3
8
2

7,500
12,500
4,600
22,000
10,000
1,000
530
6,500
9,000
33,000

1,700
8,000
910
18,500
1,900
520
250
2,100
5,500
4,100

2
11
10
19
7
3
6
4
20
1

Ohio ...........................
Oklahoma ..................
Oregon ......................
Pennsylvania .............
South Carolina ..........
South Dakota ............
Tennessee ................
Texas .........................
Utah ...........................
Vermont .....................

18,500
10,000
91,000
25,000
17,500
13,000
12,500
340,000
15,500
9,500

18,500
13,000
95,000
29,000
17,500
137,000
13,500
370,000
18,500
9,500

1,300
320
17,500
1,700
1,000
2,500
920
16,000
3,700
160

7
2
18
6
6
2
7
4
20
2

8,500
6,000
29,000
8,000
2,300
8,500
3,800
85,000
9,500
990

5,000
2,900
31,000
2,200
2,600
25,000
2,600
118,000
2,500
210

27
22
33
8
15
18
19
32
14
2

Virginia ......................
Washington ...............
West Virginia .............
Wisconsin ..................
Wyoming ...................

9,000
87,000
5,500
15,500
16,500

10,500
123,000
6,500
52,000
19,000

670
14,000
350
570
1,400

6
11
5
1
7

3,800
18,500
1,400
4,900
5,000

1,300
15,500
1,000
1,300
2,200

12
13
15
3
12

Other States 5 ............

31,470

32,320

1,170

4

2,690

3,600

11

United States ............

2,710,070

(X)

237,350

9

596,360

478,440

18

(X) Not applicable.
1
April 1 number of colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the April 1 number of colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the April 1 number of colonies.
5
Includes data for States not published in this table.

8

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January-March 2022
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...........................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ..........................
Connecticut ......................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................
Idaho ................................

36.9
14.8
39.8
29.7
13.5
10.2
39.0
41.2
57.0

17.0
28.1
7.2
2.3
13.1
17.4
1.1

3.0
(Z)
3.3
3.8
1.4
3.7
0.6
(Z)

3.7
(Z)
23.1
5.3
0.6
(Z)
9.8
5.1
35.5

10.8
(Z)
1.3
3.9
3.4
3.5
6.4
5.9
1.4

5.3
0.5
8.9
4.2
2.6
1.2
8.2
3.0
1.3

Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ..........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ..........................
Massachusetts .................
Michigan ...........................

20.1
28.5
29.7
37.8
15.6
61.1
7.3
23.7
13.4
6.1

6.9
11.5
13.0
21.8
3.9
48.1
1.2
7.4
2.9
1.9

2.0
1.7
0.7
3.7
3.0
0.6
0.7
1.9

4.3
3.6
0.9
1.7
2.8
2.3
1.4

5.4
9.7
1.6
4.2
5.6
0.6
7.0
12.1
1.6
4.2

10.6
5.9
5.1
5.1
11.0
7.6
1.2
13.6
2.7
(Z)

Minnesota ........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
New Jersey ......................
New Mexico .....................
New York .........................
North Carolina .................
North Dakota ....................

1.1
53.1
11.1
0.5
3.2
13.3
48.7
16.6
23.4
33.1

12.5
8.6
3.9
(Z)
4.1
7.6
-

6.1
(Z)
0.7
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
-

(Z)
2.0
0.5
3.1
-

(Z)
1.8
5.3
(Z)
(Z)
0.6
0.5
7.7
2.4
-

1.0
8.9
5.2
(Z)
2.3
1.8
(Z)
6.6
1.0
(Z)

Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ...................
South Carolina .................
South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ...............................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ...........................

18.0
18.8
11.4
14.6
38.0
4.2
12.9
21.2
22.2
15.2

4.8
(Z)
3.9
3.8
3.4
5.1
2.1
1.5
1.9

0.7
(Z)
1.0
0.6
3.0
1.3

1.7
1.4
0.6
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
3.6
4.0

2.2
(Z)
3.1
4.5
1.8
3.3
6.0
(Z)
2.7

7.2
(Z)
1.1
3.0
3.1
(Z)
3.0
1.5
0.5
0.5

Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

25.7
8.3
15.8
7.9
2.2

13.9
4.0
7.4
(Z)
-

2.5
3.6
1.7
(Z)
-

(Z)
1.2
6.5
-

12.0
2.6
6.0
2.0
1.2

7.8
(Z)
0.9
0.5
0.8

Other States 4 ..................

65.6

58.9

1.0

(Z)

2.8

(Z)

United States ...................

36.0

8.8

2.7

7.7

4.8

4.4

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Includes data for States not published in this table.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April-June 2022
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...........................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ...........................
Connecticut ......................
Florida ...............................
Georgia .............................
Idaho .................................

36.0
8.4
20.6
41.1
31.0
10.9
31.8
35.9
32.6

14.3
(Z)
12.7
16.2
15.3
9.0
13.1

1.0
1.3
2.0
4.8
0.6
5.7
1.4
5.6

6.9
9.5
6.6
(Z)
8.2
6.1
13.7

17.9
4.8
6.4
20.3
26.5
1.1
12.2
8.3
9.5

3.7
(Z)
3.9
3.7
(Z)
6.3
5.7
3.5

Illinois ................................
Indiana ..............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ...........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ................................
Maryland ...........................
Massachusetts .................
Michigan ...........................

18.3
28.1
49.3
41.6
39.9
31.9
(Z)
19.9
4.7
10.6

7.4
5.0
1.1
1.0
15.1
9.9
7.9
1.2
(Z)

3.2
0.5
1.6
1.7
10.7
4.8
(Z)
2.4
1.3
3.1

1.6
4.2
0.9
21.1
2.4
4.8
0.8
0.5
7.1

7.3
7.2
4.6
23.0
2.5
2.4
(Z)
14.7
0.8
2.8

10.6
4.7
5.7
1.9
18.9
2.5
(Z)
1.7
0.5
(Z)

Minnesota .........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
New Jersey ......................
New Mexico ......................
New York ..........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................

4.9
21.7
11.5
16.4
26.4
7.0
52.0
23.0
23.9
38.9

0.7
21.0
3.0
21.9
0.8
8.6
3.4
2.8
22.7

(Z)
(Z)
0.8
0.7
0.7
8.6
0.8
3.5
0.9

(Z)
0.7
0.5
1.7
0.6
0.9
(Z)
4.8

2.6
15.2
2.6
8.7
0.7
(Z)
31.5
1.7
(Z)
9.9

(Z)
5.8
1.6
(Z)
0.7
1.0
1.0
0.5

Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ....................
South Carolina .................
South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ................................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ............................

67.0
18.4
57.3
19.0
30.0
47.4
30.9
37.2
40.1
21.2

5.3
2.6
23.2
3.3
29.2
31.6
23.7
28.6
0.8
1.5

5.5
9.5
0.6
1.0
(Z)
6.9
-

3.1
1.4
16.1
(Z)
12.8
2.6
(Z)
0.6
7.9
0.7

2.3
9.8
17.5
1.1
1.2
13.9
24.4
5.1
23.8
1.3

2.0
0.7
(Z)
2.1
0.9
1.4
1.7
0.9
8.3
(Z)

Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

30.8
50.8
13.1
26.9
12.6

21.7
7.3
7.4
14.6
2.5

0.9
4.3
3.6
4.9
5.1

0.6
3.4
11.8
-

18.1
14.2
1.0
9.6
3.0

1.7
1.6
0.9
6.0
1.0

Other States 4 ...................

57.3

45.8

4.8

1.6

5.6

1.6

United States ...................

47.5

21.8

4.0

6.8

15.9

3.5

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Includes data for States not published in this table.

10

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: July-September 2022
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...........................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ..........................
Connecticut ......................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................
Idaho ................................

70.7
6.4
25.1
30.4
14.4
9.4
56.5
49.4
44.0

25.7
0.9
12.6
7.2
3.3
30.8
21.4
4.9

0.5
1.1
(Z)
4.3
(Z)
0.5
1.7
7.0
5.0

4.2
4.5
13.0
6.2
1.0
13.9
5.6
9.8

5.5
2.2
7.0
9.8
2.2
4.6
14.2
16.3
9.5

4.0
3.8
4.8
7.9
5.4
(Z)
16.6
10.1
3.7

Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ..........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ..........................
Massachusetts .................
Michigan ...........................

37.4
49.8
5.1
50.6
26.1
51.9
60.2
61.9
20.8
25.4

20.1
4.7
3.1
7.3
17.2
17.0
1.0
36.1
4.9
2.8

0.7
(Z)
2.4
2.7
0.9
51.8
4.6
1.5
2.1

11.8
41.2
2.1
30.8
(Z)
51.8
4.5
(Z)
4.6

1.4
2.9
2.4
2.4
17.5
1.9
(Z)
3.4
7.5
3.5

10.0
2.3
2.1
17.3
22.3
3.9
(Z)
3.1
(Z)
1.7

Minnesota ........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
New Jersey ......................
New Mexico .....................
New York .........................
North Carolina .................
North Dakota ....................

10.7
56.1
20.4
22.1
18.3
15.4
7.3
57.3
35.8
56.1

1.4
14.6
13.1
(Z)
(Z)
10.1
1.1
13.8
26.1
12.7

(Z)
0.9
(Z)
(Z)
3.8
(Z)
9.3
1.5
4.2

10.7
3.6
0.8
3.0
1.7
(Z)
1.3
21.1
1.4
17.1

4.1
12.2
14.7
7.5
7.5
0.7
2.4
16.7
0.9
7.3

2.3
9.5
(Z)
0.7
(Z)
7.7
1.1
7.8
1.1
0.9

Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ...................
South Carolina .................
South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ...............................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ...........................

41.9
27.1
32.0
25.8
34.9
24.7
27.3
12.4
26.7
32.4

16.8
1.5
10.0
4.6
24.7
3.4
20.5
11.6
18.5
1.0

(Z)
0.6
6.1
0.6
5.6
(Z)
10.3
(Z)
3.4
0.7

10.1
10.0
4.3
1.7
6.7
16.8
8.5
5.9
17.6
-

6.3
8.1
12.7
3.7
7.1
18.1
11.3
5.5
2.6
2.1

2.4
1.6
0.5
0.8
5.6
0.5
10.8
1.6
4.0
0.6

Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

34.5
11.1
14.8
20.4
14.1

13.9
(Z)
9.2
7.9
4.4

0.6
(Z)
3.8
7.2
4.9

2.3
3.4
6.7
4.9

1.6
(Z)
(Z)
5.0
1.5

7.2
0.7
2.1
6.9
(Z)

Other States 4 ..................

22.5

4.5

2.1

5.3

4.4

2.2

United States ...................

37.3

11.4

3.4

10.0

9.3

5.2

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Includes data for States not published in this table.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States:
October-December 2022
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
Varroa
Other pests
State
Diseases 2
Pesticides
Other 3
Unknown
mites
and parasites 1
(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...........................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ...........................
Connecticut ......................
Florida ...............................
Georgia .............................
Idaho .................................

23.1
17.9
9.9
48.6
5.3
12.8
33.2
33.5
17.8

9.7
0.5
2.7
24.8
(Z)
2.3
14.7
11.5
2.8

0.9
(Z)
18.8
(Z)
(Z)
3.5
3.3
2.2

0.6
(Z)
19.0
(Z)
0.7
14.2
3.7
4.1

5.6
3.1
(Z)
27.1
(Z)
1.2
7.8
8.5
2.0

6.7
1.8
0.6
3.4
4.5
0.6
7.0
2.1
10.8

Illinois ................................
Indiana ..............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ...........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ................................
Maryland ...........................
Massachusetts .................
Michigan ...........................

25.2
43.1
6.7
70.0
20.3
18.5
9.0
40.9
29.8
24.9

9.0
23.4
1.3
2.7
5.2
9.1
2.3
10.9
0.7
4.3

0.3
18.2
0.9
1.2
0.9
3.0
6.3

4.2
20.7
2.3
0.8
(Z)
2.1
8.1
0.6
1.5
1.5

2.3
17.1
1.4
30.1
6.6
5.2
13.4
10.6
2.6

8.9
14.8
2.9
1.8
10.2
0.9
0.7
2.2
2.0
5.3

Minnesota .........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
New Jersey ......................
New Mexico ......................
New York ..........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................

9.1
13.0
12.5
27.8
31.4
15.0
20.3
59.3
13.5
35.6

(Z)
1.7
8.8
8.8
12.9
6.1
5.0
38.8
6.4
12.2

(Z)
0.5
1.3
10.9
(Z)
4.8
19.1
3.1
1.6

3.0
5.0
7.3
(Z)
(Z)
1.6
19.5
3.6
4.3

0.9
5.4
2.2
0.7
0.5
1.4
41.1
3.7
0.9

1.1
4.7
1.0
7.4
4.1
1.1
3.4
(Z)
2.5

Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ....................
South Carolina .................
South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ................................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ............................

15.2
10.4
63.4
49.4
23.6
67.1
24.4
14.0
9.2
12.0

8.2
1.1
25.5
12.6
2.4
30.7
7.6
12.8
3.2
3.2

(Z)
19.8
1.5
5.0
2.5
4.3
2.1
1.1

(Z)
1.3
15.8
7.1
0.5
11.4
0.7
4.3
(Z)
0.6

2.2
0.9
3.3
3.1
4.9
9.4
1.0
3.8
(Z)
-

2.6
(Z)
1.7
4.9
1.4
(Z)
3.1
3.0
(Z)
-

Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

43.3
34.0
33.4
23.2
22.9

20.9
6.4
3.8
21.4
5.9

(Z)
0.8
19.4
4.2

(Z)
17.5
-

6.4
4.2
6.4
9.9
-

3.9
8.2
0.5
11.7
7.4

Other States 4 ...................

22.4

18.5

(Z)

(Z)

-

0.7

United States ...................

44.3

19.8

10.3

12.4

14.2

4.7

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Includes data for States not published in this table.

12

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January-March 2023
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...........................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ..........................
Connecticut ......................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................
Idaho ................................

31.9
72.9
62.2
48.7
1.8
10.8
28.1
31.2
12.1

18.3
51.4
18.2
1.8
11.1
1.3
2.8

0.7
5.3
11.3
3.5
(Z)
(Z)

1.5
(Z)
24.7
14.1
(Z)
0.1
5.6
7.7
5.3

9.9
(Z)
2.0
23.0
0.9
2.8
4.2
1.7
1.2

8.3
0.5
5.9
16.7
1.4
7.2
8.5
7.4
6.0

Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ..........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ..........................
Massachusetts .................
Michigan ...........................

21.5
24.8
26.9
20.9
16.6
48.2
16.8
16.4
9.6
6.5

9.0
4.5
1.0
2.7
5.9
10.0
4.7
2.7
0.6

0.6
(Z)
1.3
0.8
0.6
2.4
2.5
1.5
0.5

0.9
2.2
5.4
1.7
2.0
1.5
1.2

10.5
6.0
1.4
8.9
3.2
2.9
0.8
7.3
5.2
1.1

10.0
2.3
3.2
2.7
9.4
6.0
2.5
3.9
1.8
1.7

Minnesota ........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
New Jersey ......................
New Mexico .....................
New York .........................
North Carolina .................
North Dakota ....................

9.2
19.6
12.7
0.6
8.2
20.0
84.2
33.5
22.5
16.2

(Z)
9.6
4.3
(Z)
6.7
(Z)
10.3
6.1
-

0.8
1.1
(Z)
(Z)
64.8
22.6
(Z)
-

(Z)
7.5
(Z)
1.0
1.4
(Z)
(Z)

1.3
15.4
3.6
4.3
1.7
0.9
3.9
4.5
0.6

1.4
2.7
9.5
(Z)
(Z)
3.8
1.4
4.9
2.5
-

Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ...................
South Carolina .................
South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ...............................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ...........................

37.8
4.7
28.7
20.9
32.2
2.7
39.8
11.3
32.4
3.1

10.6
1.1
13.1
4.6
7.3
Z
5.5
6.7
19.4
(Z)

6.0
2.5
(Z)
0.9
(Z)
19.0
(Z)

11.5
(Z)
(Z)
0.7
(Z)
(Z)
1.0
7.6
19.0
(Z)

20.1
2.8
11.4
2.0
10.4
1.8
7.0
9.7
2.8
-

4.3
(Z)
2.0
7.7
7.4
1.0
4.9
1.1
2.0
1.6

Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

22.6
12.1
14.5
15.0
1.4

10.5
2.4
2.8
0.9
-

(Z)
2.3
1.0
0.8
-

(Z)
2.5
1.1
0.5
-

4.2
6.4
2.0
2.7
1.4

4.8
4.5
3.4
7.2
(Z)

Other States 4 ..................

27.2

19.0

13.6

(Z)

1.1

(Z)

United States ...................

39.7

13.6

7.4

10.1

14.8

11.2

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Includes data for States not published in this table.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April-June 2023
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...........................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ...........................
Connecticut ......................
Florida ...............................
Georgia .............................
Idaho .................................

37.1
15.4
22.4
41.6
64.4
66.3
49.5
30.2
40.9

10.4
Z
13.1
3.3
5.1
4.9
21.8
12.2
6.7

2.1
2.1
2.8
4.0
5.5
0.8
7.1
2.4
5.9

1.0
7.4
4.5
1.3
18.2
3.9
5.7

4.4
0.7
1.9
11.3
0.7
2.7
15.1
9.8
1.3

9.1
(Z)
3.1
4.1
(Z)
0.7
7.7
7.1
1.4

Illinois ................................
Indiana ..............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ...........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ................................
Maryland ...........................
Massachusetts .................
Michigan ...........................

25.6
23.8
17.9
35.5
8.0
32.0
10.6
11.7
28.2
16.5

13.3
5.6
2.6
2.0
2.9
3.6
(Z)
0.6
(Z)
1.7

3.2
1.6
4.5
0.1
1.0
(Z)
3.9
(Z)
0.7
1.8

6.8
7.4
9.9
21.7
1.3
17.5
4.7
(Z)
2.1

6.7
18.3
5.1
3.4
0.5
24.7
(Z)
0.5
10.6
3.3

3.7
3.0
(Z)
2.0
5.6
0.8
4.5
1.6
10.3

Minnesota .........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
New Jersey ......................
New Mexico ......................
New York ..........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................

13.0
12.6
13.1
23.7
26.8
13.2
4.0
24.7
28.8
60.5

2.1
3.5
6.4
(Z)
3.9
3.6
0.6
9.1
8.8
6.9

(Z)
1.0
0.8
2.1
0.6
0.8
1.3
2.2
0.9
2.7

10.1
3.2
0.5
2.9
0.5
(Z)
0.7
2.3
(Z)
6.9

1.1
9.1
4.8
6.5
0.6
2.5
1.1
9.3
1.6
1.3

7.7
2.4
3.4
(Z)
3.7
1.1
(Z)
(Z)
2.5
(Z)

Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ....................
South Carolina .................
South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ................................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ............................

65.3
4.0
27.9
13.8
32.2
13.7
13.3
46.8
55.0
9.7

33.5
0.9
9.3
7.2
5.7
7.1
1.5
42.3
33.6
0.5

0.7
3.5
2.7
0.7
(Z)
10.9
25.5
-

5.7
14.3
6.9
(Z)
5.8
(Z)
12.1
28.0
0.8

1.0
0.7
4.3
1.1
15.8
1.4
2.8
30.1
28.6
(Z)

4.4
(Z)
(Z)
1.1
2.7
0.8
1.8
10.2
(Z)
1.2

Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

23.3
41.6
31.1
67.2
17.2

7.5
1.0
3.2
9.8
10.9

0.8
6.1
1.8
47.8
Z

9.2
49.2
-

6.6
4.3
1.8
48.1
2.3

3.0
(Z)
0.8
46.8
2.5

Other States 4 ...................

10.6

3.5

3.3

2.1

0.5

(Z)

United States ...................

50.9

13.9

6.5

10.5

13.6

6.0

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Includes data for States not published in this table.

14

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms with Five or More Colonies – United States:
2022 and 2023
[Loss reported that met all of the following 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 the food reserves 4) Loss not
attributable to varroa or nosema loads. Blank cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun]
Year
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
(number)
2022 ......................................
2023 ......................................

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

(number)
86,070
107,630

(number)
51,390
54,730

(number)
68,620

93,550

15

Terms and Definitions of Honey Bee Colony Estimates
Added colonies: A new or replacement, surviving colony that was either created or purchased whole by an operation.
Colony: A hive containing a queen honey bee and attendant worker bees and/or drone bees.
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) criteria: Colonies reported as being lost due to CCD must have fully met four 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 the food reserves 4) Loss not
attributable to varroa or nosema loads. Colonies lost due to CCD were collected on a quarterly basis for operations with
five or more colonies.
Lost colony: A completely failed colony, loss of most workers, and possibly the queen. Colony is no longer viable.
Sometimes referred to as a dead out.
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. Maximum colonies is considered the base number from which a data user can do further analysis. It
does not include the colonies that were added, lost, or renovated in the state. Colonies are counted in every state they were
in during the quarter; therefore, a national level maximum number of colonies cannot be calculated due to duplication.
Nucleus colony (nuc): A smaller sized hive box with reduced numbers of bees and brood, usually containing a queen;
used for expansion of the apiary operation or renovating an existing colony.
Package: A shipping container with several pounds of honey bees that may or may not include a queen; used for
expansion of the apiary operation or renovating an existing colony.
Percent lost: The state-level percentage of colonies lost is the number of colonies lost in that state divided by the
maximum colonies for that state. The national level percentage of colonies lost is the total number of all colonies lost in
the United States divided by the number of colonies on the first of the quarter.
Percent renovated: The state-level percentage of colonies renovated is the number of colonies renovated in that state
divided by the maximum colonies for that state. The national level percentage of colonies renovated is the total number of
all colonies renovated in the United States divided by the number of colonies on the first of the quarter.
Renovated colony: An existing colony that was requeened or received a nuc or package.
Stressors: State level colony health stressors for operations with five or more colonies are the percent of the maximum
colonies reported to be affected, by quarter. The national level colony stressors is the summed number for the United
States divided by the number of colonies on the first of the quarter.

16

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Statistical Methodology
Survey Procedures: Data for operations with honey bee colonies are collected quarterly from a stratified sample of
operations that responded as having five or more honey bee colonies on the Bee and Honey Inquiry and from the NASS
list frame. NASS Regional Field Offices maintain a list of all known operations with honey bees and use known sources
of producers to update their lists. All operations are mailed a questionnaire and given adequate time to respond by mail or
electronic data reporting (EDR). Those that do not respond by mail or EDR are telephoned or possibly enumerated in
person.
Estimation Procedures: Estimates were prepared by the Agricultural Statistics Board after reviewing recommendations
and analysis submitted by each Regional Field Office. All data were analyzed for unusual values. Data from each
operation were compared to their own past operating profile and to trends from similar operations. Data for missing
operations were estimated based on similar operations or historical data. National and State survey data were reviewed for
reasonableness with each other and estimates from the previous quarters using a balance sheet.
Revision Policy: The previous year’s estimates are subject to revision when current year’s estimates are made. Revisions
are the result of late reports or corrected data.
Reliability: Since all operations with honey bees are not included in the sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling
variability. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplication, and mistakes in
reporting, recording, and processing the data. While these errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized through
strict quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and
reasonableness.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

17

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected]
Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ...................................................................................................... (202) 692-0069
Jean Porter, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ................................................................... (202) 690-3223
Holly Brenize – Poultry Slaughter.......................................................................................................... (202) 720-0585
Liana Cuffman – Catfish and Trout, Mink, Census of Aquaculture ....................................................... (202) 720-8784
Fatema Haque – Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ............................................................................... (202) 720-3244
Derron Martin – Chicken Hatchery, Egg Products ................................................................................. (202) 690-3237
Seth Riggins – Honey, Honey Bee Colonies .......................................................................................... (202) 690-4870
Shulonda Shaw – Cold Storage, Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses ................................................. (202) 720-3240
Autumn Stone – Layers, Eggs ............................................................................................................... (202) 690-3676
Takiyah Walker – Broiler Hatchery........................................................................................................ (202) 720-6147

Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:
➢ All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov.
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For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
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