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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Bee Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372285
Research Project: Managing Honey Bees against Disease and Colony Stress

Location: Bee Research Laboratory

Title: The role of migratory beekeeping in the U.S. agricultural economy

Author
item ZHANG, YI - Guangdong University
item HUANG, SHAOKANG - Fujian Agricultural & Forestry University
item Chen, Yanping - Judy

Submitted to: Apiculture of China
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2019
Publication Date: 12/10/2019
Citation: Zhang, Y., Huang, S., Chen, Y. 2019. The role of migratory beekeeping in the U.S. agricultural economy. Apiculture of China. 12:16-18.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Honey bees are the most important pollinators of agricultural food crops. Migratory beekeeping, in which beekeepers move their hives seasonally to pollinate a wide variety of crops all over the country, contributes more than $15 billion in value to the U.S. agriculture each year. This article presents a comprehensive review of the history of migratory beekeeping in the U.S., the vital role of migratory beekeeping in California's almond production, the activities of migratory beekeeping during the annual production cycle, and the procedures associated with contracting for pollination services. The challenges facing the migratory beekeeping industry today are also discussed in detail. The information included in this article may be of use for researchers, students, beekeepers, and policymakers who are interested in the US beekeeping industry.