Winter Loss Surveys

From Karen Roccasecca, State Apiarist, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture:

Please remember that time is running out to complete these surveys, so please take the surveys, help spread the word and encourage others to complete the surveys soon.

The first one is offered by The PA State Beekeepers.  Their survey is a Winter Loss Survey for PA beekeepers.  Please go to their website, www.pastatebeekeepers.org , to complete this confidential survey. It is a quick and easy survey and the results will be posted on their website.  This survey will be available until the beginning of May.  Please note that beekeepers using iphones or ipads may have problems completing the survey. PSBA’s webmaster is working on this, but he may not be able to get the two systems to work together. This direct link may work:  https://goo.gl/forms/qbLvyoOfd6OYk8en2 .  Another solution is to use a different computer or android device belonging to a friend or the library.

After you are done taking the survey, be sure to look at all the information and interesting articles on the site. If you are not yet a member of PSBA, you may want to consider joining. It is a great organization and their mission is to help PA beekeepers.

The other survey is offered by the Bee Informed Partnership.  There is additional information below about this survey - The Bee Informed Partnership Colony Loss and National  Management Survey. PLEASE take a few minutes and complete this national confidential survey. YOU have an important role in BOTH of these surveys!

The Bee Informed Survey is only around until April 30, 2018, so it is time to get the word out to your beekeeping friends and associations and complete the surveys! 

I can’t stress enough how important YOUR participation is in these surveys.  These surveys have a huge impact on beekeepers in PA and throughout the United States.  The results are used by a variety of  people and play a large role in determining the outcome of many programs affecting honey bees and other pollinators, as well as beekeepers. This survey will take longer to complete, but is extremely valuable. Please take the time to complete it as accurately as you can. Go to www.beeinformed.org  and then click on “Participate in the Colony Loss and Management Survey” (near the top of the page, in the “moving” dark box).

PA has had the highest response of any state or commonwealth almost every year since the beginning of the survey.  Let's see if we can break our record of responders this year! Please remember that more data, from more beekeepers, will help provide a better and more accurate survey, with results that will help YOU and YOUR BEES!