U.S. Honeybee colonies have averaged an unsustainable loss rate of 40-50% from the years 2006-2024. However, results of surveys from the year of 2024-25 show that the death rates of bees have risen over the last 12 months to close to 70-80%. Results are showing 50% winter losses, and added on top of the year’s already high losses, the numbers of lost bees threaten the industry and have the potential to seriously affect American agriculture. Beekeepers in North America will be pushed beyond recovery if we start experiencing annual losses of 70-80%. Honeybees are responsible for the pollination of over 130 fruits and vegetables. 1 out of 3 bites of food in the U.S. is a direct result of honeybee pollination, and another 1 out of 3 bites is indirectly reliant on pollination.

This is the information we received from the American Beekeeping Federation and the American Honey Producers Association in February of 2025. Unfortunately, it lined up perfectly with everything that we had been seeing locally with our bees, and the bees of our customers. Dozens of people came to our shop expecting to put their bees in our wintering shed, but we found the boxes completely empty, with not a trace of a bee. Pretty much any beekeeper you meet in the street today has lost at least one, if not all of their hives this year. After we removed our bees from our wintering shed in northern Wisconsin in spring of 2025, we experienced 79% losses; a stark contrast to our usual 75% success rate.

There are many thoughts and theories as to why this is happening, including disease, mites, nutritional deficiencies, pesticides, climate change, etc. Some believe it to be the final culmination of years of these stressors, and lingering impacts of Colony Collapse Disorder in 2008. Commercial beekeepers across the country are requesting support from research scientists, universities, and organizations like Project Apis m. to test their bees and get to the root of what may be happening.

As we continue to spread awareness in our community, many have asked us what they can do to help, and how they can support honeybees. Besides the usual answers of planting native floral sources, buying local honey, and limiting use of pesticides and mosquito spraying; we wanted to offer our customers and community an opportunity to impact bee losses directly, hence this fundraiser was born. Money can be tight, and instead of simply asking for donations, we wanted to offer our customers products that they were already buying, with the added bonus of supporting honeybee research.

From now until the end of August, when you purchase a 12 oz. jar of honey with the Save the Bees label, or a Pollen in Love cookie with the Save the Bees label, you will be making a donation to Project Apis m.

From the Project Apis m. website: Project Apis m. is a 501(c)5 non profit founded to support the best science to advance the beekeeping community. Governed by a Board of commercial beekeepers and agricultural stakeholders, we work closely with industry leaders and scientists in the US and Canada to identify challenges, and direct and fund efforts focused on practical solutions. Our rigorous selection of applied projects is guided by a volunteer Science Advisory Committee of well-established honey bee research scientists.

Hansen Honey Farm has partnered with the Butcher Shop Bake Company, a local bakery that the Hansen family are personal fans of, to bring you their delicious Pollen in Love cookie, handmade in Rhinelander WI with Hansen Honey. Hansen Honey Farm will also be donating $1.00 from each bottle of Save the Bees honey to Project Apis m.

In the midst of these honeybee losses, it is of vital importance to do your research and stay informed on how you can help, and as always, we greatly appreciate the continued support of our friends and customers.

If you are interested in resources to assist you in planting native, pollinator-friendly plants, you can find those here: