LAKEWOOD, Colo. — In October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact beekeepers nationwide to gather information on colony loss, colony numbers and value as part of the Quarterly Colony Loss survey. The information helps evaluate conditions from year to year, and promote programs designed to ensure the viability of beekeepers and agricultural pollination services.

“The survey results provide a statistical benchmark on honey bee colony numbers and death loss for comparison each year.” said Bill Meyer, Director, Mountain Regional Field Office. “By participating in the survey, the information will allow USDA, beekeepers and other interested parties to analyze data on a state-by-state basis, and compare specific quarterly losses, additions and movements.”

“As is the case with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential as required by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only aggregated data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified,” stated Meyer. Survey results will be published in the annual Honey

Bee Colonies report August 2020. This and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information call the NASS Regional Field Office at (800)
392-3202.

— USDA, NASS, Mountain Regional Field Office

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