Heavy hive loss concerns local beekeepers

ROCHESTER, Minn.-Heading into spring, many beekeepers are seeing a rise in the loss of honeybee hives.

Sweet Local Honey Co. owner Michael Joppa said they've lost nearly 60 percent of their hives.

Hive loss can be attributed to a number of factors including varroa mites and starvation.

According to the University of Minnesota Bee Lab, varroa mites are a parasite prevalent in many hives that can infect bees with fatal viruses.

During the winter, bees can starve if they run out of food before spring.

Nonprofit Project Apis M. did a survey on hive loss across the country in 2025, the results showed that nationwide there's an estimated nearly 1.24 million colony loss.

Joppa said the loss of hives could affect honey production this year.

He said, "we're going to be really struggling to get our colonies strong for summer this year. I mean we, you take a look at our pallets we're down to 50 percent at this yard alone so we've had 100 percent losses at other yards so i mean our honey production is going to be way down."

He said if you want to help honeybee you can plant a pollinator garden.

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