Honey Beekeeping in Florida

Honey bees are known to be the strongest link in the chain between food producers and consumers. They contribute nearly $20 billion to the crop industry by providing pollination services all over the United States, and Florida's honey industry is ranked among the top five in the nation. There are nearly 5,000 registered beekeepers in the state of Florida, managing approximately 630,000 colonies. Unfortunately, high colony loss rates of honey bees have been reported throughout the world. Stressors, such as Varroa destructor, queen quality, and nutrition are just some of the reported factors associated with this decline. Researchers have been working to identify best management practices to mitigate these losses. All recommendations in these publications are based on scientific literature about honey bees in Florida and around the world. Additional resources can be found on the HBREL website.

Subtopics

• Africanized Honey Bee
• Apiculture Industry
• Bees for Pollination
• Bee Pest Management
• Bee Products

Publications

• Using Nucs in Beekeeping Operations
• The Benefits of Pollen to Honey Bees
• Best Management Practices for Live Bee Removals in Florida: A Beekeeper’s Guide
• Best Management Practices for Siting Honey Bee Colonies: Good Neighbor Guidelines
• Building Bear Fences for Your Apiary
• European Honey Bee Apis mellifera Linnaeus and subspecies (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae)
• Florida Bears and Beekeeping
• Florida Beekeeping Management Calendar
• Florida Honey Bee Plants
• Keeping Bees in Florida
• Minimizing Honey Bee Exposure to Pesticides
• Observation Bee Hives
• Overwintering Honey Bee Colonies in Northern Climates
• Preserving Woodenware in Beekeeping Operations
• Robbing Behavior in Honey Bees
• Sample Pollination Agreement
• The Social Organization of Honey Bees
• Swarm Control for Managed Beehives
• Theft, Vandalism, and Other Related Crime in the Beekeeping Industry: A Guide for Beekeepers

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