Honey bees play a major role in pollinating everything from the flowers in your yards to apples, pears and peaches in orchards across Washington and Idaho.

A new survey from the Apiary Inspectors of America, Auburn University, and Oregon State University shows that the honey bee colonies are declining in Washington and Idaho at an alarming rate.

According to the survey, which covered the period from April 1, 2023, to April 1, 2024, 45 percent of colonies were lost in Washington and 51 percent in Idaho.

A combination of disease, mites, and low pollen count makes it difficult for bees to survive the winter. The survey shows an estimated 30 percent of managed colonies were lost during the summer months of 2023.

Jerry Tate owns Tate's Honey Farm in Millwood.

"A lot of the local beekeepers

See Full Page