Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in South Dakota as of January 1, 2023, totaled 53,000 according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The number of colonies in South Dakota on April 1, 2023 was 13,000. During 2022, honey bee colonies on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 were
21,000, 13,500, 178,000, and 175,000, respectively.
Honey bee colonies lost for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2023, was 2,200 colonies or 4% lost. During April-June 2023, 2,500 colonies or 2% of colonies were lost. The quarter of October-December 2022, at 27,000 or 15%, showed the highest number of lost honey bee colonies of any quarter during 2022. The quarter of January- March 2022 had a loss of 1,000 colonies or 4%, the lowest number of honey bee colonies lost in 2022.
Honey bee colonies added for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2023, was 0 colonies. The number of colonies added during the April-June 2023 quarter was 8,500. The quarter of April-June 2022, added 2,000 colonies, the highest number of honey bee colonies added for any quarter in 2022. The quarter of October-December 2022, at 20, showed the lowest number of honey bee colonies added during 2022.
Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2023, was 0 colonies. The number of colonies renovated during the quarter of April-June 2023 was 25,000. During April-June 2022, 19,000 colonies were renovated, the highest number of colonies renovated during 2022. The lowest number of honey bee colonies renovated for any quarter, at 0, occurred during January-March 2022. 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 of the quarters in 2022. The quarter of October-December 2022 showed the highest percentage of varroa mites in 2022, at 67.1%. The percent of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites during January-March 2023, and April-June 2023 were 2.7% and 13.7%, respectively.
Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in North Dakota as of January 1, 2023, totaled 82,000 according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The number of colonies in North Dakota on April 1, 2023 was 62,000. During 2022, honey bee colonies on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 were 75,000, 77,000, 495,000, and 385,000, respectively.
Honey bee colonies lost for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2023, was 2,400 colonies or 3% lost. During April-June 2023, 7,000 colonies or 2% of colonies were lost. The quarter of July-September 2022, at 82,000 or 16%, showed the highest number of lost honey bee colonies of any quarter during 2022. The quarter of January- March 2022 had a loss of 120 colonies, the lowest number of honey bee colonies lost in 2022.
Honey bee colonies added for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2023, was 2,700 colonies. The number of colonies added during the April-June 2023 quarter was 33,000. The quarter of April-June 2022, added 15,000 colonies, the highest number of honey bee colonies added for any quarter during 2022. The quarter of January-March 2022, at 300 added, showed the lowest number of honey bee colonies added in 2022.
Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2023, was 1,000 colonies. The number of colonies renovated during the quarter of April-June 2023 was 4,100. During July-September 2022, 14,500 colonies were renovated, the highest number of colonies renovated during 2022. The lowest number of honey bee colonies renovated for any quarter, at 0, occurred during January-March 2022. 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 of the quarters in 2022. The quarter of July-September 2022 showed the highest percentage of varroa mites in 2022, at 56.1%. The percent of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites during January-March 2023, and April-June 2023 were 16.2% and 60.5%, respectively.
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