News Roundup: Honey Bee Health Coalition Drives Widespread Coverage on Historic Colony Losses

In May 2025, the Honey Bee Health Coalition (HBHC) continued to lead public awareness around catastrophic honey bee colony losses, with national, regional, lifestyle, and even podcast media amplifying HBHC’s message. As survey findings and industry concerns gained traction, coverage expanded well beyond agricultural trade outlets, reinforcing HBHC’s role as a trusted leader on honey bee health.

National & syndicated news coverage on colony losses:

• Recorder (MA) and Athol Daily News — Reporting that beekeepers nationwide lost an estimated 1.6 million colonies over 10 months, underscoring the severity of the crisis
• MSN, Yahoo News, and Men’s Journal — Highlighting concern over catastrophic bee losses and implications for food systems

Widely syndicated regional coverage:
A long-form news story appearing in multiple outlets brought HBHC-related reporting into community news feeds nationwide, including placements in:

• Sacramento Bee, Modesto Bee, Idaho Statesman, Kansas City Star, News & Observer, The State, Tri-City Herald, Olympian, Ledger-Enquirer, Merced Sun-Star, San Luis Obispo Tribune, Herald Online, Belleville News-Democrat, Macon Telegraph, and Mahoning Matters

HBHC advocacy and commentary:

• Capital Press and RV-Times — Reporting on the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s request that USDA share additional information on colony losses, reinforcing HBHC’s role as a national advocate for transparency and data-driven response
• Farm News and Messenger News published an article exploring questions of where bees are going and why losses continue to mount

Podcast spotlight:

• In The Produce Moms Podcast Episode 346, Matt Mulica, Senior Project Director at the Keystone Policy Center, joined host Lori Taylor to discuss the severity of U.S. honey bee declines, the essential role bees play in agriculture and food systems, and the work of the Honey Bee Health Coalition to address these challenges through collaboration, science-based action, and public engagement.

The Honey Bee Health Coalition is driving sustained national attention on honey bee health, spanning traditional news, opinion, lifestyle reporting, and even podcasts that reach new audiences. HBHC continues to bring urgency, visibility, and leadership to one of the most pressing challenges facing pollinators and agriculture today.