U.S. Beekeepers are questioning USDA data released this week claiming honeybee numbers increased 3 percent in the last year. Bruce, South Dakota beekeeper Richard Adee says the Ag Department’s reporting methodology is wrong.

The USDA report also mentioned mites were helping cause bee losses. Adee says the real problem has been neonicotinoids
Adee says he and his fellow beekeepers are working hard to avoid colony losses and despite what the USDA report said, the actual number of honeybee colonies have remained steady with last year’s numbers.

The numbers released this week came from USDA’s honey bee health survey.