Colony Collapse Disorder
From 2006-2007, some beekeepers began to report losses of 30-90 percent of their hive populations.
Its unclear what causes CCD, but what is clear is that it isn't good for the environment. Bees have a hand in not only pollinating our trees and flowers but also our food! Natural pollination occurs but not enough to feed the modern world we live in.
So what would cause CCD? Theories suggest it might be stress from the changing nature of the world, a change in the bee immune system, parasites or mold, or even pesticides.
To help combat the loss of insect pollinators the USDA, CDC, and EPA came together to joint an action plan to help beekeepers and bees in their natural environment.
Beekeeping is one of the most rewarding hobbies out there, but sometimes it can be hard when the bee population is dwindling naturally.
Last year my hives were struck by colony collapse disorder. Two of them were full of dead bees, and the other two were empty completely. No sign of infestation or mold, just gone.
Although this is a difficult and discouraging thing to happen to a beekeeper all you can do is try again. This year we are improving our hive area and making a streamlined processing area for the arrival of our new bees in 2019.